Dragon's voice
Thoughts/Emphasis/
Regular speech.
_ _]II[_ _
Chapter II Alternating POV
Iris POV
Waking up was a rather odd affair. I could feel my body coming alive much before I was consciously present enough to have any such control. Most things were muffled, sounds, smells, even touch. But, for the most part, I seemed to be waking up.
As my body began stirring, and my mind had commenced clearing the fog that had taken a hold on my mind, I began listening in on the conversation that seemed to be happening close to me.
"Honestly, shouldn't we have waited till she was conscious before taking her here?" a distinctly female voice said. I couldn't be sure, but it sounded oddly familiar. I wonder why everything was so hard to focus on.
"It's fine Minerva, if anything happens I have the ability to take her back," an older man's voice responded. Now I was sure I had heard this voice before, as odd emotions steered when I heard it. A mix of amusement, curiosity and respect from the feel of them.
Groaning, I opened my eyes, blinking several times to clear the blurriness from my vision.
"Argh, what happened," I asked, groaning again as my muscles protested my movements.
"We were defeated," an all too familiar voice in the back of my head replied.
"Really?" I thought back, my mind now occupied, well, my mind I guess?
"Yes, now pay attention, our vanquisher speaks," came the chiding reply.
"...ight miss Potter?" was what I heard.
"Sorry?" I replied sheepishly, "I kinda missed that,"
The man who had spoken, the Headmaster, I now remembered, smiled, "Quite alright, you have recovered much faster than most who have fought me as fiercely as you did," he sounded quite amused by this, I noticed.
Shifting on the rather comfortable bed I was on, I began to formulate a response. "Good to know I guess," my eyes avoided his, instead taking in the rather sterile room I was in. The odd stone like walls, multiple beds and… wait a minute.
"Where am I!" I suddenly demanded, my earlier shyness erased into the ether as my eyes began to form into slits. I wasn't the only one beginning to panic.
"OUR HOME! IT IS UNGUARDED!" My other half screamed inside my head.
I started pushing myself out of the bed I was in, getting ready to make a break for it when suddenly I was frozen in place, as if petrified.
"There is no reason to panic my dear girl, you are safe," The Headmaster said calmly.
"Quite right, no need to work yourself into a frenzy," The woman, Minerva I believe, added.
I tried to speak, but found that I couldn't. "Appallon, a little help?" I whined to my dragon side.
"Like you need to ask," was the gruff reply. Inwardly, I felt nothing, but outwardly, I saw the worried looks both the Headmaster and his deputy I presumed had begun feeling while they watched the partial change that I knew was overtaking me.
With an audible grunt, the spell holding me broke and I jumped to my feet, landing upright on the bed. The blankets that had previously covered me had fallen off to reveal mostly to myself that I was dressed in some sort of hospital gown. This gown didn't hide my arms and lower legs all that well, as I could see the emerald like scales that had formed on my forearms and legs and probably face as well.
"You may have won our last fight, Headmaster, but don't presume that gives you the right to bind me," I growled.
The deputy looked shocked by my performance, but the Headmaster merely raised a brow in amusement. "Noted my dear," he answered with a smile and an odd twinkle in his eyes.
Nodding, I then asked, "Now, where. Am. I?"
"There is no need for such rudeness Miss Potter," the deputy huffed. "As for where you are," she continued, once she determined I was listening to her. "You are at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The premier school of magic in all the British isles," she finished.
There was only one piece of news that mattered to me in that statement.
"The British Isles!" I exclaimed, outraged. "What about my cave! My Home!" I further shouted.
My anger began to rise once more, though I suspect it was mostly in part due to Appallon. The damned lizard always clouded my judgment when it came to matters where treasure was involved.
"There is nothing wrong with that," he growled in my head, clearly miffed that I would even dare to blame him.
Before I could further work myself into a frenzy, The Headmaster raised his hand to get my attention. "Peace, Miss Potter, your cave is safe," he assured.
"You're certain?"
"Most certain. I warded the entrance against intruders, and have put up many alert wards to inform me should anyone even so much as deign to approach your home,"
My posture relaxed slightly, but only slightly. "What else have you done?" I asked, suspicious.
"I've made it unplottable," he admitted.
"And that means?"
"No person can mark your home on a map accurately,"
"How accurately can they map it?"
He chuckled. "He dares to laugh in a situation like this!?" trust Appallon to be even less amused by the Headmaster's antics than I was.
"The best most will be able to do is guess that your cave is located somewhere west of the Rockies," his grin was damnable.
I huffed. Then a thought occurred to me. "And how, pray tell, am I supposed to get home?" I said rather evenly, my eyes doing their best to bore into his. It didn't work, obviously, as they belonged to the man who had bested my other half. But still, a point needed to be made.
"Are you not willing to stay here?" he asked rather than answer.
"That is not the question, old man," I growled. And not like most humans growl when they are annoyed, oh no, Appallon made sure to voice his discontent through me despite my vocal cords not having the capacity for such a thing.
He nodded, still smiling. "I suppose it wasn't," he agreed.
This was beginning to get tiresome, all this empty speak.
"Are you holding my home hostage in order to ensure my attendance?" I decided to ask outright, no longer in the mood to play word games.
"We shall not attend this place if that is the case!" Appallon voiced the opinion only I was able to hear.
The Headmaster shook his head. "Of course not. Forgive an old man, but sometimes I get lost in my games," he replied.
"Take me there then, now," I demanded.
"Miss Potter!" Minerva decided to protest rather blunt demand. The Headmaster waved her off, unconcerned.
"It's quite alright Minerva. Miss Potter has every right to be annoyed with me," he told her. Turning his attention back onto me, he chuckled once more. "You sure are quite full of yourself so shortly after how easily I dispatched you,"
The twinkle that was on full blast did nothing to help his pompous words. "Are you expecting me to beg instead?" I challenged, my posture straightened, and Appallon began coming to the front of my mind.
He shook his head once more, most likely trying to calm the Green Dragon that was visibility taking over my body. "I implied nothing of the sort," he chose to deny. "I was simply expecting you to be a bit more polite is all,"
"I'll be polite when you prove your intentions," I insisted.
Finally, the damned smile on his face left. He sighed, "Still a child I see," he mumbled, probably more to himself, "If you insist, we can head out immediately after we finish checking upon your health. You had some interesting status effects upon your body after we had healed your physical wounds,"
"Status effects?" I asked, now confused as to what he could be referring to. "What Status effects?" I added mentally, seeing if Appallon would be a help.
"I'm always a help!" he chose to chime in, seemingly annoyed.
"Not now, we have more pressing issues,"
He huffed, but I could feel his grip on my body recede as he most likely began searching. The Professors must have taken the visual change that such an act would cause, as a sign that I was calming down. I was, but only slightly.
"Yes, Status effects," The Headmaster said. "There was an odd energy emanating from your back, and you have a few foreign energies within you, seemingly dormant,"
"The runes," came the startling answer from Appallon. "The ones that Elder gave you," he added, which caused realization to dawn upon my features.
"OH!" I thought. Looking around and the inquiring look that the Headmaster was sending me, it seemed that I had said it as well.
"I take it you are aware of these energies then?" The Headmaster inquired, curious.
I nodded, "To a degree," was my simple response.
Seeing that he was expecting more, I smiled for once, happy to know something and not tell him. "You're free to look at them if you'd like," I said with a smirk, not offering any more information.
He however, smiled, causing me to frown.
"Alright then. Minerva, if you would be so kind as to prepare a list of items that we will need to help young Iris here for school, that would be much appreciated," he asked her.
Minerva nodded, and quickly made her way out of the hospital wing. Upon her departure, the Headmaster signaled for someone, most likely the head nurse, before turning his attention once more unto me.
"I promise you there will be no more spell casting directed towards you save for the usual medical examination spells," taking a deep breath, he then added, "So, armed with my promise, would you mind taking on your human form fully?"
I blinked, then smirked. "Why, scared I'll go full dragon?"
He shook his head. "Not at all. I merely would like to have easier access to the peculiar energies that seemed to inhabit your natural form," he explained.
I guess that was a reasonable request. "Appallon? Do you mind?" I asked mentally.
Rather than answer, I felt his presence recede once more to the back of my consciousness, where he was most likely making a mental pile of gold to sleep on. Upon hearing the chuckingling that followed the thought, I took it to mean yes, yes he was making a pile of gold in my mindscape.
While this happened, the Headmaster had been watching me more intently, seemingly fascinated by the transition. "What?" I asked, catching him still staring once I was sure the process was complete.
He blinked, and then looked away. "Madame Pomfrey will finish her examination, simply make your way to the bed and she shall check you over,"
I saw the stern looking matron he spoke of coming towards me and decided that maybe complying with her would be in my best interests. Quickly hopping onto the bed, I waited as she approached, her wand in hand.
My mind soon began to drift a bit, as the swirling motions of her wand work and the intricacies of the spells she was using were not really interesting. I felt nothing as the spells looked me over, and merely had half an ear on her conversation with the Headmaster.
"Miss Potter, I'll need to see your back please," the matron said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Sure,"
Turning, and then lifting my gown up all the way to my shoulders, I waited patiently for her to finish up with her unnecessary check up.
"My word," I heard her gasp. "Albus, that's," she began, clearly finding trouble with speaking over whatever it was she had discovered.
"It is," Albus nodded solemnly.
"What's what?" I asked, now curious as to what they were looking at.
I heard the Headmaster sigh. "Miss Potter, are you aware you have a Sigil of Power carved into your back?"
I shrugged. "I know there is a sigil there, not that it's a sigil of power," I decided to answer honestly.
"Of course," he seemed to be almost wary now. "How did you acquire this?"
"Do not tell him!"Appallon's voice came loudly to the forefront of my mind, to the point I could almost see him fully in the window before me.
"I won't, don't worry,"
"He is not to know!" Appallon insisted.
"Miss Potter?" the Headmaster asked again, clearly expecting an answer.
"I'm afraid I cannot say Headmaster," I decided to answer.
"Cannot? Or will not?" came the much more serious question. "I will inform you, Miss Potter, that while our little information games are fun, this is not a matter to take lightly,"
I could feel magical power infuse the Headmaster's words as he stressed the importance of what I was withholding.
Too bad, the promise that binds me was much more important than someone who beat me only once.
"Cannot. That Sigil of Power, as you put it, came at quite the cost. To honor my end of the agreement, I must keep my silence," I stated just as seriously, my eyes once more taking on their slitted nature when Appallon and I meld.
The Headmaster stared at me for quite the while, leaving even the Matron to become uncomfortable with how intent he seemed to bore into me. The moment in truth lasted only a couple of seconds though, and he soon put a tight grip on his aura, reigning it in to the point he appeared rather meager.
"If you are sure," was all he said. Straightening his robes, and by god now that I was watching all of him and not just his face, I saw how odd they were. A yellow that clashed with purple in the oddest fashion I had ever seen.
"Now then," he said, coughing once to make sure he had my attention. "We have three things on the agenda today where you're concerned Miss Potter,"
"Three?" I asked, curious.
"Three," he agreed. "First, we have the little expedition back to your home. Second, we have another expedition into magical London, where we will acquire all your needed School supplies. And Thirdly, when was the last time you had a meal Miss Potter?"
The last thing gave me pause. "The elks three days ago," Appallon helpfully chimed. Before I could respond though, my stomach grumbled at the mention of food. I looked up sheepishly.
"It's been a while,"
The Headmaster chuckled. "I can see that. Would you be amenable to eating before we part?" he inquired.
I nodded eagerly. "Yes, I can agree to that,"
He smiled. "Dipsy!" he called out, and soundly a loud crack was heard right next to him, causing me to jump back in surprise.
"Dipsy, Miss Potter here has not eaten for the last little while. Would you be so kind as to bring her some breakfast please?" he asked the little creature kindly.
"Yes sir, Professor whiskers!" the creature replied eagerly, bobbing its head up and down vigorously before popping away.
"She won't be to long, please wait here whilst I go prepare for our journey," were the Headmaster's parting words as he began to leave the hospital wing.
"Oh and Poppy?" he asked, stopping to look at the Matron, "Could you be a dear and lead Miss Potter to my Office once she has eaten?"
Madame Pomfrey rolled her eyes, "Certainly Albus," was her curt reply.
_ _]II[_ _
The walk towards the Headmaster's office was nothing truly mesmerizing. The only thing of note to my eyes, or more like to Appallon's eyes, were the suits of armor that adorned some of the hallways, as well as the weapons each carried.
"We should collect those,"Appoallon mused.
'No'
"Yes,"
'No'
"YES!"
'NO!'
This went on for the rest of the walk, much to the confusion of my guide I would assume. I guess my expression had not remained blank, seeing as the kind matron was obviously aware that I was occupied with something.
We eventually stopped in front of a large gargoyle statue, which leapt aside upon hearing an odd password that suspiciously sounded like mars bars. How you could make the planet into bars, I'll never know, but I swear this was what I heard.
A simple walk up the no longer guarded flight of stairs brought us to a door covered in an odd piece of magic. Reaching out with my senses, I smirked as I realized it was an alert ward.
"Come in,"
Sure enough, it informed the Headmaster of our arrival before we had the chance to knock. Smart.
Walking inside, the matron and I found the Headmaster sitting comfortably in a rather ornate armchair, behind what appeared to be a rather beautiful desk. I say think, because it was mostly covered in all kinds of books and parchment.
Around us, there were many interesting instruments and devices, their purpose something I wouldn't attempt to divine at the moment. That didn't stop me from admiring the impressive display.
"He does well to surround himself with wealth, even if it is not traditional," Appallon stated in approval.
'On that, we both agree'
"Thank you Poppy," The Headmaster said, dismissing the matron with a kind wave. She nodded back, bowing to him before silently retreating from the office, most likely heading back to the infirmary.
I looked up at the Headmaster expectantly at this point, but chose to hold my tongue.
He smiled, amused by my attitude I would hazard to guess. Senile Bastard.
"Come now Iris, there is no need for such impatience," he scolded me lightly, though I saw that he had no heat behind his words.
I shook my head slightly. "You use my given name as if we are familiar," I choose to say instead of acknowledging his earlier comment.
He blinked, then did that odd twinkling thing with his eyes. "Really? Does dueling to the death not count as getting familiar with each other anymore?" he asked with clear amusement.
I giggled. "It would if you'd dueled me," I conceded.
"I see. So the dragon, is it not you then?" His tone took on an odd note, as if he was evaluating a threat rather than just the conversation.
"He is right to keep his guard up, Witchling," Appallon added his own two cents.
'I'm merely being cautious, like Elder taught us,'
Appallon did not say anything further, but I sensed his approval at my reply.
"I'm not sure how much I want to tell you, sir, since we are not familiar,"
He nodded, seemingly understanding. "I can understand that, but I believe for our continued relationship going forward, I need to fix that,"
Standing up from his chair, he extended his arm forward, hand open for me to take. It was almost identical to a certain man I had once known.
"Let me introduce myself fully then, Iris," He stated seriously. "My name is Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, and Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am the Defeater of the Dark Lord Grindlewald, and I am the current holder of the Elder Wand,"
While not really up to date on all of the information that was being presented to me, I still found it to be rather impressive.
"The Elder Wand!" Appallon exclaimed. Trust him to only care about artifacts. "Witchling, that is one artifact that even I would not mess with lightly,"
My interest peaked. 'Why? What's significant about it other than the cool sounding name?'
"That artifact was made by an aspect of Death, its power has little rival. I am no longer surprised that our vanquisher was able to dispatch me so easily,"
I blinked, talk about badass.
"Impressive," was all I could say aloud, much to the Headmaster's amusement.
"Quite. Now for you, we won't be familiar until you introduce yourself," He said.
He was right, but how much to tell? My resume, while somewhat interesting, was nothing nearly as impressive. That, and well, it was also quite bound by vows and secrecy oaths.
I took a deep breath, before I took the Headmaster's offered hand with my own, smaller one. Looking him in the eyes, I began. "My name is Iris Lilian Potter-" As I began talking, my body started steaming, and I began transforming into my form between forms, allowing Appallon access to meet me in the 'middle' so to speak. My eyes became slitted and the rest of my features became mostly draconic. I then continued to speak, though Appallon spoke along with me, making it sound as if he was physically present.
"/Appallon. I am-/I am.. The student of one I call Elder/The student of the Elder.. I am the witchling and future grand Sorceress half/I am the Dragon and future Eternal Green ruler half. Together we form the one, destined to stand at the pinnacle of all races,"
My voice melded with Appallon's at the end, and we finished our speech with a proud grin.
Albus watched the whole display intently, enthralled by the performance we were putting on for him. Upon our completion, Appallon retreated back into my mind, and my form returned to being fully mine.
"Quite the introduction, Iris Potter. It is a pleasure to make your proper acquaintance," Albus said formally, shaking my hand before letting go, placing both his arms behind his back.
"Indeed, it certainly is a pleasure," I giggled, putting a hand up to cover my mouth as I did so.
He chuckled. "Well, with the pleasantries officially out of the way, shall we depart?" he asked.
I nodded eagerly. "Yes!"
Another chuckle. "Then take this here portkey, and we shall be on our way,"
I reached out, taking the offered item, and suddenly the office we were in vanished as a hook-like sensation appeared to whisk us off by the navel.
_ _]II[_ _
AN: There you have it, Chapter two. I apologize for not getting this out sooner, but I was having trouble on where to continue the story. Thankfully, I have the next few chapters mapped out in my head, and should start getting them out much faster.
Wishing you all a happy holiday!
Zephyr.