- "Why can't I come with you?" insisted Ginny one last time, as she stood on tiptoe beside the dragon.
Harry did not answer. He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
- "We'll be back soon", he assured.
Ginny tucked the blanket around the child settled on her husband's lap.
- "See you soon, Albus", she whispered, placing one last kiss on the pale cheek of the unconscious little boy.
Charlie, who was sitting in front, turned nervously to Harry.
- "We have to leave", he said hoarsly. "The day will soon rise."
A golden and red dawn already cracked out the night on the horizon
- "Be careful", said Arthur Weasley.
- "Be brave, Harry ..." Hermione breathed, even though she didn't know anything more than Ginny – she just could feel something terrible was going happening.
Ron put his right arm around her shoulders - his left arm was already around his mother.
- "Neville, we all count on you", he told the young teacher who was sitting behind Harry and clung to the thick hair of the dragon, looking a bit green.
- 'I d-don't really l-like f-flying", stuttered Neville apologetically. "B-but it-t's okay. I-I've seen worse."
- "We are ready", Charlie said, leaning over the neck of the ancient beast.
The dragon moved away a few steps from the group, then spread his great wings. The wind they caused took away Molly's shawl. Strong muscles and blood vessels rippled under the shiny black leather and the huge creature took off in a cloud of powder snow.
- "Will they get there in time?" Ginny whispered, her sweaty and feverish hands joined on her heart.
- "I don't know ..." said Mr. Weasley, taking his daughter in his arms. "But I want to believe they will, Ginny."
Their silent prayers went up in the ink night while gold slowly hemmed the mountains on the horizon.
oOoOoOo
Foggy clouds flew next to them like a fluffy and gray river.
Charlie squinted, trying to see before him, but without success. It was a good thing the dragon did not need a guide. The speed was burning the man's eyes and the harsh cold bit his cheeks. Some ice fringed his red hair. Harry was curled around Albus, protecting him best as he could. Behind him, Neville's teeth chattered and his face was purple.
It's here.
- "We're there!" Charlie yelled over his shoulder as the dragon was beginning its descent.
The huge wings were beating slowly and the clouds opened before them, as if they made a guard of honor. The top of the mountain appeared, tinged with pink and gold, as dawn pierced the sky of brilliant golden rays. The dragon slid skimming along the ridge.
- "Dawn ... oh no. Is it too late?" shivered the botany professor.
No, there's still time. Hurry, earth seeker. Go find what you need to find.
- "Jump off, Neville! Dash, you can still do it!"
Without hesitation, the young professor swung his legs on the same side and slid against the side of the dragon. His fall sent him a roll-rounding on the natural mattresses. He straightened up, a little dizzy, eyebrows and hair cowered with white powder and immediately began to rummage around in the notches of the blue rocks that emerged from the thick layer of snow.
The dragon landed a little further. His powerful claws gripped the ridge of the mountain, and his wings fell back slowly.
- "You all right, Harry?" Charlie asked, a little breathless, turning round. "How's Albus?"
The young man opened the blanket.
- "Still unconscious, but breathing a little better, it seems", he said, relieved.
We must act quickly.
Charlie jumped off the dragon and reached out to help Harry down.
- "Where's Neville? We can't start until he ..."
Here he comes. He found what he was searching for.
Harry turned back as he heard calling his name and his heart quickened seeing Neville run towards them among the rocks, wet and out of breath, but beaming.
- "I'VE GOT ONE! HARRY, I FOUND IT! I'VE GOT ONE!
He stumbled as he got near them and would have fallen if Charlie had not caught up his forearm.
- "Look!"
He opened his hand with difficulty – his numb fingers were swollen and purple. Inside his palm was a very delicate flower with white petals veined with gold.
- Lacrimae solis, Neville whispered, amazed. "One of the rarest plants in the world, which blooms only at dawn in places where air and light are perfectly pure."
Charlie cut short before the young teacher got lost in details only of botanical interest. He bent down, picked up a handful of snow and quickly filled his water bottle before giving it to Neville.
- "Can you make some sort of porridge out of it? Harry, Al needs to swallow this, one way or another.
Hurry. If the child falls asleep more deeply, it will not be possible to awake him ...
The dragon leaned over Harry's shoulder and his nostrils blew tenderly on the precious bundle.
Neville managed to get the bowl and pestle out of his coat pocket without dropping them. He got busy, forgetting he was frozen and his nails were gone from blue to black.
- "Al? Albus, wake up", Harry soflty called, stroking the cheek of the child who barely flinched. "Al, you really need to open your eyes. Listen to Daddy, Al. Come on, son. Albus. Albus, wake up, I beg you."
The boy shivered and his mouth opened. His long dark eyelashes fluttered weakly.
- "Al! Hold on, okay ? Good boy, Daddy's proud of you."
Harry looked up and met the benevolent look of the dragon.
All will be fine, father.
Charlie turned anxiously towards the professor.
- "Now, Neville!"
Harry pushed the mixture in between the child's lips. The little boy turned his head away and coughed it out with a whimper.
- "Al, please ..."
He exchanged a panicked look with the two other men. Behind them, the sun rose slowly, radiating on the snow.
Time was running away and with it Albus' life.
Harry thought hard for a moment, then reached into the bowl. Before Neville could stop him, he stuffed the porridge in his mouth and chewed it carefully.
Then he spat at the tips of his fingers and tried again to put it in the mouth of the child. Albus whined, too weak to push the hand away. He swallowed a little, began to cough.
- "Again", Harry whispered, tears in his eyes. "Please, Al...Just a little more…"
Albus opened his eyes. His pupils were veiled but he seemed to recognize his father.
Harry took advantage of the fact he was trying to talk to push in a tiny ball of porridge and his joints whitened while the boy swallowed, half choking, big tears overflowing his pale cheeks.
Neville put his hand on his friend's shoulder and squeezed it.
Charlie was anxiously watching the bowl's level going down and the sun rising up above the clouds. The rays darted on the snow and the sky was tinged with pink silk.
Albus finished to swallow the porridge with a last gasp. There was a drop of blood on the edge of his lips and his body trembled in his father's arms.
- "Okay", Charlie said hoarsely. "Now give him to the dragon."
His heart feeling like ice, Harry lifted the child and held him tight one last time. He kissed the tangled black curls, gently pressed the nape of his son.
-" It won't be long, I promise Al.."
His voice broke.
- "It won't hurt."
The child linked his arms around his neck, trustful.
- "I love you, Daddy ..."
Harry closed his eyes to stop his tears. He breathed deeply, then undid the hug gently and placed the boy in the paw of the black dragon.
Have faith, father.
The green and golden eye of the ancient creature passed before his face, full of love.
Gather your courage.
The dragon stood up and the three men fell back, impressed by the majesty that emanated from him. He faced them, standing in the dazzling sun, his huge black wings spread like banners, graciously inclining his long neck.
A very old and very powerful creature, whose beauty was matched only by her kindness.
Now, scaler.
Charlie took a deep breath.
- "Come on, Neville", he stammered, dragging the professor lower on the ridge. "We can't stay here."
- "But ... Harry…" protested the young man.
The man shook his head, ruffling his red hair.
- "Harry must do it alone."
They walked away and did not stop until the silhouette of Harry was not higher than that of a child in front of the huge dragon. Charlie sat down in the snow and buried his face in his hands.
- "Can't we watch?" Neville asked. His teeth were chattering.
- "Believe me, you don't want to see", whispered the other man. "Harry is going to kill Albus, Neville."
Daddy ...
Yes, Al?
Don't worry, Daddy.
I love you, Albus.
Harry pulled out his wand from his pocket and tightened his trembling fingers on the thin wooden stick.
- "Can't we save him otherwise?"
No, father. This is the only way.
- "Are you ... will you really ... how can I be sure that you ... Promise me you'll bring him back!"
Ice clung to the young man's black hair and fog had formed over his glasses because of the hot tears streaming down his cheeks without restraint.
I promise.
Harry gasped, a sound that sounded like a broken laughter or a cry of pain.
- "I thought I'd never have to use this spell!"
I know.
He wiped his mouth with a quick movement. He had bitten his lip and a little warm blood was running down his chin.
You died once to save a world, Harry. To kill the man who left you that scar.
- "I had no choice! I don't want Albus to ..."
His voice broke.
This scar will be different. Your son will not bear a cursed seal. And he will live.
- "But you're going to die, dragon."
The gold in the jade eyes gave them a strange expression, as if they were laughing.
Don't worry, father.
His voice was warm and filled with love.
Do what you must do.
Harry swallowed hard. He closed his eyes, then opened them again. His body was not hurting any longer. It seemed to him he was not really there, not really standing in the icy snow on top of a mountain haloed by the rising sun.
He raised his wand.
In front of him, the little boy opened his big green eyes, nestled in the black fur. He looked around him, seemed to recognize his father and smiled.
Harry's heart broke into a million pieces when the spell flew like a comet.
- "Avada kedavra!"
A green glow - the body of his son shaken by a jolt.
Then everything disappeared.
The mountains, the sky, the black dragon with his wings like boat sails, the last look of the child.
Everything became white.
Empty.
Silent.
oOoOoOo
A crystalline laughter.
Clear, happy. The carefree laughter of a child.
Harry opened his eyes and saw running towards him a little boy with thick black curls, his green eyes sparkling with life in the casket of his long dark eyelashes. He was holding a small ebony dragon, whose chubby belly was bouncing against his legs.
- "Daddy! Toothless ate a whole fish all by himself!"
The baby dragon had a look of supreme resignation. He gave a sigh which shuddered his silver whiskers. His golden split green eyes were looking straight at Harry as if he was waiting for a helping hand.
An enthusiastic yepee and the smell of adventure and challenge.
Harry turned round.
The kid with green eyes was surfing on the clouds, standing on the back of a young black dragon whose wings were beating foward with strength and boldness. They were perfectly synchronized, leaning and turning on currents as if the whole sky was theirs.
The boy smiled and waved his hand without losing his balance.
- "Dad! Look at me! Don't you think with Toothless and I, James and Lily, Hugo and Rose and Teddy, we could be a Quidditch team all by ourselves? We could win the world cup!"
The dragon snorted his approval. Its ace of spades shaped tail swept some of the stars, and they mingled with the mist trail that followed the two friends.
Harry closed his eyes. He did not know if he was dead or if he was dreaming.
He opened his eyes and gasped when he saw a young man coming towards him with feline grace, running a hand casually in his thick black curls. A big smile on his face, he walked confidently and his green eyes shone with a golden glow, full of tenderness.
- "Hey, Dad. Did you wait a long time for me?"
He was handsome and gave off majestic strenght, but it was his eyes that Harry could not break away from.
Eyes full of kindness and gentleness.
Behind him, coming out in the foggy light, followed a huge dragon holding his head royally, his wings opened large, a satin sheen on his ebony fur.
Albus will not remember me, or what you did.
But he will not forget.
One day you will see, father. One day ...
Harry opened his mouth to ask thousands of questions to the voice which was vanishing with an echo, but he was slipping out of unconsciousness and the sensations of cold and pain were returning in his members.
- "Harry! Harry, wake up. Merlin's beard, Harry! Come back to your senses!"
He opened his eyes.
He was still on the snow-covered mountain. Charlie and Neville were kneeling on each side of him, their noses red, their faces exhausted, looking like they had seriously lost their minds.
- "Oh, Harry, you ... you ..." babbled Neville, pausing to blow on his fingers, completely confused.
Charlie ran his hands over his face and inhaled deeply.
- "Harry, it was amazing. I've heard it lots of times, but I would have never imagined... This light ..."
- "BOOM! An explosion of light!" Neville interrupted feverishly. "It was ... it was crazy! Beautiful! Wicked!"
Harry's head was pounding. He sat painfully, looked around, blinking to get used to the unbearable glare of the sun that reflected on the snow. He found out he still had his wand in hand and everything swept back into his memory.
- "Al!"
He stood up abruptly and swayed on his feet, immediately supported by the other two.
- "Albus?"
He tightened his fist on the thin wooden stick that had opened fire on his own son and slowly approached what was shining so bright at the top of the mountain.
In a golden and warm cocoon floating in the air, the little boy was sleeping peacefully. Harry could see the regular breath lifting the torso of the child. His cheeks had perked up, his dark hair looked shiny and soft as before.
He walked to the bubble of light very slowly and held out his arms. Gently, Albus' body was laid against him while the light was fading away. He stroked the face of the little boy, his so sweet skin, the funny turned-up nose, the long eyelashes, the hemmed mouth smiling in his slumber.
- "Al ... Al, you're alive ..."
Charlie nodded vigorously, too moved to find words.
Neville put his hand on Harry's shoulder.
- "It was a very ancient magic, too powerful for such a fragile vessel", he whispered. "But magic so beautiful it could be contained in what was most pure ..."
He opened a bit the child's shirt and Harry saw the scar printed on the torso of the little boy. A golden glow was still pulsing gently through the mark in the form of a snow flower. It faded away after a few minutes, but the body remained warm and peaceful, nestled against Harry's chest.
Then Albus opened his eyes and smiled. He held out his chubby little hand and touched his father's cheek.
- "Daddy?"
It was then Harry knew he was saved.
oOoOoOo
Ginny was asleep in the chair next to the boat-shaped bed, holding the hand of the little boy.
Albus did not understand why all these attentions and giggled happily when the adults took him in their arms to suddenly hug him or put him on their shoulders in a burst of gratitude and joy.
James and Lily made no mention of their brother's illness, as if the last seven days had never existed for them either.
The grown-up remembered Toothless, but they did not speak of him, so they too would eventually forget. Only Neville and Charlie knew what had really happened on the mountain and they had swear to keep the secret buried deep.
Harry knew it couldn't be otherwise but he was still ashamed to go with the flow of their peaceful routine. He was ashamed there was no song, no story, no stone with words engraved on it.
He was ashamed to keep quiet about the sacrifice of the dragon and to let it slowly sink to the bottom of his memories.
But nothing has been forgotten.
He jumped when he heard the voice inside of his head as he was standing next to the window, gazing at the stars twinkling on the plain. The snow was melting slowly and flowers had started to grow.
One day, father.
One day you'll see.
What will become of Albus Severus Potter.
What a man can do when inside of him burns a brave heart.
A kind and wise heart.
A heart ready to fight and die for those he loves.
A heart pure like one of a child.
The heart of a dragon.