Clan Alfknif
10th of May, 1995.
Harry sat up and breathed in deeply. He had tears running down his face. Katla. Rhavaniel. He hid his face in his hands. He missed them so much. He closed his eyes and let his emotions flow. He wasn't one to cry in front of other people, but he knew better than to keep his emotions in.
"Is Master Harry alright?"
Harry looked up. "I'll be okay, Winky," he said. "Is there something special you wanted?" he asked as he wiped the tears from his face.
"Mister Dumac gave Winky a letter for Master Harry," Winky said. She held a pristine envelope out to him.
"Thank you Winky," Harry said.
"Winky is going to be making breakfast for Master Harry now. Don't Master go anywhere," Winky said before popping away.
Harry chuckled. He sat up properly and opened the envelope.
Dear Mister Potter,
The bidding for the Nirn gold has ended,
and you are requested back to the Bank to
accept the price for your gold.
While I have access to your
vault it would not be right to remove major
treasure without your presence.
Your Account Manager,
Dumac of Clan Alfknif
Harry placed the letter down. He was glad Hermione knew about his past. It was much easier explaining to her why he had to be away for a bit than having to find some kind of excuse as to why she wouldn't be able to find him.
Winky showed up again with a tray. She placed it down over her Master's legs. "Master Harry will eat," she said.
"Of course Winky," Harry said. He lifted the spoon from the tray and dipped it into his porridge with red berries. Next to the bowl, there was an egg. He grabbed it and cracked it open. Winky made a breakfast that would keep you going forever.
The little elf came back and removed the tray so Harry could get out and have a shower once he was done. He pulled on a set of robes once he'd dried his hair. He'd slept in that morning. His dorm mates were still asleep and would probably not wake up for another hour at least. He wasn't taking a run that morning. He would go see Dumac and make sure that the Dwemer got their gold. He walked through an almost empty common room before making his way down to the tunnel to Honeydukes. He needed to get outside the wards before he could apparate, and the wards ended about halfway through the tunnel.
"Good morning Dumac of Clan Alfknif," Kato said as he entered the Dwemer's office.
"Good morning Mister Potter," Dumac said. He held out a paper to the teen. "Look through that. It is the final offer you have received. We have sold the coins by the hundreds. You have a list of offers for the last couple of thousand coins."
"I, in all honesty, do not care who gets what," Kato said.
"Do you mind if I distribute them per Clan Alfknif's preferences?" Dumac asked.
"Not at all," Kato said.
Dumac nodded as he looked down at his lists. He would have to bring in some tellers who could help him count the coins. "Now all we need is the coinage," he said.
Kato started bringing bags out of his backpack. Dumac had counted the coins in the bag he had already been handed when deciding how many coins they had to work with. Harry had told him there were eleven bags available. He now brought out fourteen bags. Two more were going to Clan Alfknif and the last one Harry was keeping for now. It could also be used if there was a discrepancy of some kind. Looking at his balance Kato was ending up with somewhere around six-hundred-thousand galleons. A good chunk of which was going to go to buying land and building a house for him.
Kato left Dumac to it. He needed to head back to Hogwarts so he could attend his classes. "I'll be back on Saturday, Dumac," he said.
"Good, I will have our real estate agent join us. We have found several plots of land that might interest you," Dumac said.
"Fantastic," Kato said. "I will see you on Saturday."
13th of May, 1995.
Kato was back in Gringotts a few days later. He was sitting in Dumac's office. They had sold his gold and everything had gone well. Some clans were less happy with the outcome, but that didn't bother Kato.
Felac had joined them. He was the broker in charge of Harry's case. He had gathered together several promising plots of land some with houses already built and some without. Harry dismissed certain places immediately. He wanted access to water if he could. There were a few places that they visited. There was a place between River Nith and River Annan that looked pretty good. Then he saw Lake Ennerdale. It was beautiful. Harry felt at home there right away. "This is the place," he said.
"Good, we'll get the wards up and running. If you could mark where you want the house to stand," Felac said.
"Could you make the grounds bigger on the inside of the wards than the outside?" Harry asked.
"If we place proper guides for it then yes," Felac said. "You should still mark the house. We'll use it as a guide when we spread the land. It is better to increase land within perimeters."
"So it would be wiser to increase the land if I turn out to need it later rather than doing it now?" Harry asked.
"I would recommend that, yes," Felac said. "Though it is good for us to know that you will want that, it means that we can lay the preparations now."
Harry nodded. They walked down towards the beautiful lake and looked around the grounds. There was a trail that led just along the water and Harry was a little worried about what would happen if he just cut that off. When he mentioned it to Felac though the dwemer just said they would reroute the path around his grounds and give a decent excuse as to why that had to happen. It would be fine.
Harry marked the spot for the house and Felac did several other marks only visible to those with magic. "We'll start on the wards on Monday," he said. "Then I would like you to sit down with one of our architects to design the house you want."
"Thank you, Felac," Harry said. "May your riches grow."
"And your foes fear your blade," Felac responded. "You better head back now. I know for a fact that the Chieftain wants to speak to you."
Harry looked surprised, but he didn't comment on that before Dumac brought them both back to the bank. "What does Chief Radac wish to speak to me about?"
"That I believe is for him to tell you," Dumac said.
Harry was perplexed. He wondered what was going on. They reached Radac's office and Dumac knocked on the door. Harry walked in through it after him.
Radac rose from his desk. "Walk with me human," he said as he started heading towards a door at the far end of the room.
Harry followed the Chieftain out of the room. They headed through a marble corridor lined with statues of goblin warriors.
"I must say I was a bit surprised to learn that a warrior clan runs the bank," Harry said. "It is not what people would expect."
Radac chuckled. "Human perceptions are interesting," he said. "Goblins are well versed in many things. Our clan is classed as a warrior clan, but that is not the only thing we can do. Every clan has their own area to handle for the good of our people."
"I see," Harry said. "So being a warrior clan is more about the clan being prepared to provide warriors should the need arise?"
Radac nodded. "You are quite correct," he said.
At the end of the corridor lay a lift that very much resembled the old lifts in Dwemer ruins apart from the fact that it was safer. The lift took them down – deep down.
"This is the family hall of Clan Alfknif," Radac said. "To become a part of our Clan you will have to prove yourself."
They entered a big room laid with a thick carpet. The walls were filled with weapons. All around them stood Dwemer. Members of the Clan.
"Do I need to prepare myself for a fight?" Harry asked.
"You will be tested," Radac said. "A test to see if you are ready to face the Pits. The Pits are the proving grounds of our people. To mark yourself as a true adult of our clan you have to face them. To join our clan as a human you must do the same. However, we do not wish to see you dead down there so we wish to test you." He walked up to his throne and Dumac took over. "You will face three of our warriors. Three masters in the art of combat. They will decide if you are ready to take the true test," Dumac said.
"I see," Harry said.
"You will not use real weapons," Dumac said. "However, you may show any ability you have as part of this test." He was quiet for a moment. "Though I would avoid using your wand unless you feel like you truly have to."
"I can fight without it," Harry said.
Dumac nodded. He liked this human, and he had a feeling that Harry would do well in their clan. He was glad that Radac was willing to listen to his opinion on the matter.
"This is our Clan," Radac said formally. "You are the first human in over seven-hundred years who is invited to join the Clan. This is not a common occurrence. But you have high potential to further our family standing. You hold knowledge long lost by our people. By inviting you to join our Clan we hope to add this knowledge to our library."
Chief Radac looked among his people. "This human has already brought us riches," he said. "Unlike many of his kind, he does not look down on us. This human has stood in our ancient halls on Nirn. He knows what our ancestors created."
Harry took a few steps forward and the air around them shimmered until an illusion of Blackreach was shown around them. Many Dwemer gasped at the beauty of a place that had once been their home.
"Behold Fal'Zhardum Din," Harry said. "I have spent days upon days mapping this place. I know every crook and cranny. This and much more I can share with you." He turned around and met several eyes as he spun. "Will you, Clan Alfknif, allow me to prove myself?"
An overwhelming chorus of voices met Harry. He couldn't understand the words, but he understood their meaning. It was a resounding yes.
Three warriors moved forward and Harry took his cloak off. Dumac took it from him and Harry walked forward. A goblin approached him with a finely made training sword. "Thank you," he said as he accepted it. He swung it a few times and stopped before the three that would test him.
"Master Dagor, test this youngling," Radac said.
One of the Dwemer walked forward. He carried a big battle axe in his hands. Dagor and Harry bowed to each other before they started circling each other. Harry wasn't one to make the first move. He was patient. The axe came swinging through the air. Harry caught it with his blade and pushed the axe away. He caught strike upon strike learning his opponent's pattern. Then the axe came sailing through the air again, and he moved to the side before stomping down on the axe handle and bringing his own blade to rest against Dagor's throat. He moved away. They both knew who had won.
The next master had two swords.
"Master Jarlis, test this youngling," Radac ordered.
Jarlis walked forward then he dashed into battle and Harry had to move quickly to keep up. The blades moved swiftly through the air. Harry jumped back and slammed one of the blades out of Jarlis' hand. He blocked another strike and moved back. Jarlis picked his blade up and attacked Harry with a growl.
Harry was glad that they were not real blades. He would have had cuts all over his legs and arms. Now he'd just have bruises. It didn't mean that he wasn't dealing out hits himself as well. He spun around and hit Jarlis over the back of his shoulders. He hissed as one of the blades hit his knee.
"That's enough Jarlis," Radac said.
"This human isn't worthy of joining us," Jarlis said. "He can barely keep up with one blade."
"Do not speak so hastily, Jarlis," the last master said. He walked forward. He held a sword in one hand and nothing in the other much like Harry himself.
"What are you talking about Kerac?" Master Jarlis asked.
"This young man is more than meets the eye," Master Kerac said. "He isn't truly fighting you." He circled Harry and seemed to be studying something no one else could see. "Am I wrong when I think you can wield magic as you fight? That this is your preferred method of fighting?" he asked.
"You are not wrong, Master Kerac," Harry said. He summoned fire in the hand that held no sword. "This is how I would fight if I was to fight for real."
"Then you are a battle-mage," Master Jarlis said. "And us testing you has no purpose."
"That was what I was getting at," Master Kerac said. "While I could fight you a true fight between battle-mages is to the death, and it is not something we will do now."
"Is this young man ready to face the Pits, Masters?" Radac asked.
"I believe he is ready," Master Dagor said.
"I believe there is no way to test him but the Pits," Master Jarlis said.
"I am inclined to agree with Master Jarlis," Master Kerac said. "A battle-mage cannot be tested through a show of strength."
"Then it has been decided," Chief Radac declared. "Harry Potter will pass through the trial of the Pits. If he survives he will be a full-fledged member of Clan Alfknif. If he does not, may the ancestors have mercy on his soul."
Dumac walked up to Harry. "You may wear armour for your travels through the Pits. If you have none yourself we can try to find you something that will work for you," he said.
Harry smiled softly. "That is kind of you Dumac," he said. "However…" He walked back to his backpack and pulled his armour and weapons out. He didn't care if the entire Clan watched him change. He was going to wear his armour. He strapped himself in and picked his sword up. He left the hood down and put the mask on. "I believe I am prepared enough for what is to come," he said.
Dumac looked up at Harry. "This is made of dragonscales," he said with awe visible in his voice.
Harry nodded. "And it is enchanted to self-repair," he said.
"Who made this?" Dumac asked. "Who is the blacksmith?"
"Queen Katla of Skyrim. The Last Dragonborn," Harry said. "She made my armour and my weapons in the Skyrforge."
Harry walked out to the middle of the floor again. He looked around. Dumac wasn't the only Dwemer that reacted to his armour. "I Harry Potter do hereby accept the challenge of the Pits," he stated. "I understand the dangers and will face them."
"Dumac," Chief Radac said. "You may lead your brother to be to the entrance."
"I will Chieftain," Dumac said. He led Harry down a side door and they walked along a corridor filled with doors.
"What can you tell me about the Pits before I go?" Harry asked.
"Nothing," Dumac said. "You have to go in blind."
That didn't help Harry but that wouldn't matter in the long run. He had often gone in blind. He could see that Dumac seemed worried about him. He wouldn't be if he had seen Harry in Skyrim.
"Beyond this door lies the lift that will take you to the Pits. The only way back is the second lift," Dumac said. "I cannot tell you what you will face down there. It will challenge you."
Harry nodded. "I should probably let my friends know what is going on," he said.
"Might be wise," Dumac said.
Harry called Winky and let her know what was going on. He told her to explain things to Fleur, Hermione and Neville in case they would need to cover for him. "I'm going to need something to eat so you have to get me that as well okay? Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," he said.
"Winky don't like this Master Harry," Winky said.
"I know," Harry said. "But I'm going to do it. I'm not afraid."
"Winky will be right back," Winky said before popping away.
Harry took his backpack off so he could pack the food in it when Winky returned.
Harry smiled as Winky showed back up. She gave him some food that he packed down in his bag. "Miss Flower gave Winky this to give to Master for good luck," she said and held out a hair clip with an orchid on it.
Harry accepted the clip. He pulled his hair up and attached the clip to his hair then he pulled his hood up. He packed the food down. "Here goes nothing," he said. "Wish me luck." He walked over to the lift and let it take him down. He conjured a ball of light and let it go. He had managed to work out a way for only him to see it. He didn't want to lose his abilities with his Nirn magic so he was still making improvements. He started walking slowly. "Laas Yah Paal Nir," he whispered. Shapes showed up along the path he would have to walk. He could hear the lift behind him rising. He was stuck now. He shrugged. It didn't matter. It wasn't like he wanted to go back. He reached a door and opened it. The area beyond raised warning signals in his head immediately. Magic pooled down into his hands. The room flickered and then it went dark. It had been an illusion.
As Harry kept going, he found himself in a pitch-black room. He reached out and grabbed the little ball of light hanging over his shoulder and charged it so he could throw it to the ceiling of the room. As the light spread throughout the room, he could see skeletons moving around. "Yoltaas Toor Goraag Shul," he shouted. The fire spread from him and mowed the skeletons down.
Blue light extended from him and led him to the right as the flames died out. So there were paths that would take him the long way around. He pulled his sword and cut a skeleton down on his way to the door. He pushed it open and walked through. He ran a hand against the rough stone of the wall. The air around him got colder and colder as he walked. His breath started coming out in puffs of white smoke.
Did they have a Dementor down there?
Harry stopped as he reached thick curtains hanging from the ceiling. He closed his hands and purple light spread from both. He was searching for both living and undead enemies. He reached out and pulled the curtain in front of him to the side. He summoned his patronus as well as Kali his familiar. Both the patronus and Kali weaved between the curtains until they found something. Harry heard the shriek from whatever creature was down there as his familiar tore it apart.
Kali ran back to Harry's side. "Good girl," he said calmly. He checked his path again before moving on accompanied by his familiar spirit.
The tunnels were dark. Harry wondered if that was common. It could be done that way to put them on edge. Darkness did make it harder for them to know what they would be facing. He stepped into a lush forest. He was still underground, but some kind of magic down there let the trees and grass grow anyway. It shone like a sun from the cave ceiling.
Harry reached a deep chasm. He cast clairvoyance. The spell bounced over the chasm. Of course, he had to cross the chasm. It couldn't be easy. He moved back before he started running straight for the chasm. He threw himself off the edge just as he shouted and caught air. He rolled as he landed on the other side.
"Who walks there?"
Harry froze. He looked in among the trees ahead of him. Kali appeared next to him and moved in among the trees.
"Who walks there? Answer me or die!"
"My name is Harry Potter," Harry said. "I'm here to pass through to prove myself to Clan Alfknif."
"Who is to say I will let you live human?" The creature had dirty golden fur and a dark tousled mane. The long black tail looked like it belonged on a scorpion.
Harry closed his eyes. It was a manticore. He knew this being could kill him if he wasn't careful. Kali was hiding among the trees. "I'm not here to harm you," he said. "But I will fight you if I have to."
The manticore hissed. "You really think yourself great and strong little human," they said.
"Vuth Tul Nisbo," Harry shouted as the feline pounced. He had made sure that the manticore wouldn't move. His heart was beating fast in his chest. Then he heard a roar as Kali ran forward. She snarled as she started attacking the manticore. Harry drew his sword and his eyes widened as a small dragon landed on the manticore's back and tore into the lion-like creature. The dragon was shorter than the manticore. The tail took up almost half its length and the body was only half of what was left. It was a small dragon. The manticore broke free of Harry's shout. It roared angrily.
Harry threw himself to the side as the manticore pounced towards him. He rolled and got back on his feet. The little dragon had been thrown off, but it took to the air again. It flew in over the manticore and lightning danced from its wings. Harry threw out lightning from the palm of his hand. If the dragon surrounded itself in a cloak of lighting then he doubted he could hurt it.
Kali ran up behind the manticore and buried her teeth in its tail. Lighting danced over her body and together they took the manticore down.
As the manticore fell to the ground, the dragon turned to Harry.
"Who be you?" the dragon said. "Kos hi, are you my monah?"
Harry walked forward slowly. "Hello little one," he said. "Zu'u ni hin monah. Is your mother gone?" He walked forward and reached out towards the little dragon.
"Monah!" the little dragon cried and jumped forward.
Harry took a step back and caught the dragon. "Hey, malgein," he said. It was so small he could easily hold it in his arms.
"Monah, monah, monah," the little dragon repeated over and over again.
Harry looked down at it. "I'm not," he sighed. Why fight the poor little dragon? He was probably the first person the dragon had ever met that could speak to it. "Come on little one," he said. He wondered how old the dragon was. It was about two-thirds the size of the manticore. Which didn't actually tell Harry much. It was slimmer than most dragons he'd seen. Its wings were thin but they seemed strong.
"What is your name?" Harry asked the dragon.
"Name? What?" the dragon asked confused.
Harry looked down at the little dragon. He stopped and knelt so he could place it down on the ground before he placed his hands on either side of the dragon's head. He needed to try to make the little dragon understand. "What are you called?" He opened his soul up to the little dragon to try and make him understand what he meant. He'd figured out that the dragon was male at least. "Zu'u Krinahkro," he said.
"Zu lost nid, no name," the little dragon said. "I… I don't have name. No name, not me." He sounded so sad.
Harry sat down on his calves. "I… I can name you, little one," he said. "Would you like that?"
Big pale-green eyes looked up at him. "Fen hi? Really?" the dragon asked.
Harry smiled at the joy he could feel from the dragon. He considered names he knew and what the dragon had shown of himself. Two words spoke to him. "Qozul," he said. "You will be Qozul." It translated to lightning voice or thunder. He rubbed the little dragon's long green-shimmering neck. Qozul bounced away from him happily. He repeated his name over and over again. Little bolts of lightning flew from him and hit the ground around them.
"Qozul, Qozul," the little dragon repeated happily. "Zu'u Qozul, I Qozul."
"Come on Qozul, let's go," Harry said. He started walking again. He wanted to get back out as soon as possible. They entered a long winding corridor and walked through it. Qozul landed on Harry's shoulder.
They entered another big room. It was another cave, but there was no forest this time. Harry sent out a big ball of light. He drew in a slow breath to calm himself. In the centre of the cave, there was a destroyed dragon's nest. It was full of broken shells.
"Hofkah," Qozul said.
"Where is dovahfron, family?" Harry asked as he looked at the nest that Qozul called home.
"Gone. Qozul all alone," Qozul said.
Harry shook his head. The little dragon couldn't live here all alone. He couldn't leave Qozul here. He wasn't even sure how the dragon had survived so far. "Does Qozul want to come with Krinahkro?" he asked.
Qozul looked at Harry with his big green eyes. "Qozul can go with Krinahkro?" he asked.
"Geh," Harry said.
Qozul jumped around his nest. "Qozul wants to go with monah Krinahkro," he said.
"Then come on little one," Harry said.
"Coming monah," Qozul said. He skipped after Harry happily. He wasn't alone anymore. This other dragon was strange, but Qozul knew a dragon when he met one. He moved up so he was brushing against the two-legged dragon's leg. He had been alone for so long. An older dragon was really exciting.
Harry walked on with his little dragon next to him. It was sad. He had no clue how old the little one was. He knew some about dragons, but Nirn dragons were quite different from Earth dragons. His own little egg was one of the first new ones in existence in a long time. He had never cared for a young one. He hoped he wouldn't mess up. He knew how to take care of the little one that Ahiiz had given him. That did not mean he knew how to care for all dragons, but he wasn't going to just abandon Qozul.
Sometime later they settled down and ate the food that Winky had given Harry. Qozul had a lot of fun trying things out. He liked fruit, but he preferred meat.
The next room was filled with poisonous plants and Qozul shrank and wrapped around Harry's neck beneath his hood. "Danger," he said.
"Don't worry," Harry said. "I will get us through this." He rushed through the room as fast as he could. The floor started falling beneath him as he ran. Harry's eyes narrowed. It felt like he was falling, yet he was pretty certain that he wasn't. It was another illusion, but it was actually bound into the world around him this time. It wasn't so easy to break. He looked around as he kept moving. There were safe spots in the illusion. He would have to use those to get back out. He jumped forward and grabbed onto a root. Then he swung up to another platform.
"Monah cannot fly?" Qozul asked.
"Unfortunately not," Harry said as he pulled himself up on another platform. "Incarcerous," he cast a binding spell, but he messed it up on purpose. The length of rope attached to a tree up above but it was still hanging loose. He grabbed the end and climbed up then he felled the tree and ran along its length. He jumped and grabbed onto a ledge. He pulled himself up. In the distance, he could see torchlight. He had reached the lift out.
Were the dragons supposed to be something to fight? He certainly hoped not. If they were, then he was going to have a very stern talk with someone. "Stay where you are, Qozul," he said softly.
Qozul hid in the hood of Harry's armour.
Harry pulled the lever.
The lift started moving up.
The look on Harry's face was grim as they reached the top.
"You made it," Dumac said. He sounded relieved.
Harry took the mask off and Qozul peaked out of the hood. "I hope that you do not supply that place with creatures," he said. "I had to kill a crazy manticore and I found a nest filled with broken eggs, but only one dragon was alive." He lowered his hood slowly to show the dragon off.
Dumac looked at the dragon. "Did you really find it down there?" he asked.
"We do not supply the pits," Jarlis said. "Another clan does that, but dragons are certainly not on the list of things we want in there. The manticore is another matter. It was probably crazy before it ended up down there. If one of our people killed a dragon like that they wouldn't be allowed back to the Clan!"
Harry met Jarlis's eyes for the longest time before he nodded. He wasn't being lied to.
"Do you know what type of dragon he is?" Harry asked.
"He's a Cristallum Parvus. They are presumed extinct. They were hunted for their scales. The name is Latin and it isn't quite correct. If I translate it from Dwemeris it would roughly be Size-Shifting Crystalback. My name is Dagnar by the way," another dwemer said. "I am our resident dragon expert."
Harry nodded. "So they were hunted because humans found their scales pretty?" he said.
Dagnar grimaced. "We did it too," he said. "We stopped when we realised what it was doing to the species though. Humans didn't. You shouldn't have been able to find one of them down there. Their species are extinct as far as we know. That you found one alive is quite marvellous."
"Monah, who that?" Qozul asked.
"They are Dwemer," Harry said.
"Alright, Dwemer good?"
"Dwemer are alright Qozul," Harry said.
Qozul jumped down from Harry's shoulders and moved forward quickly while growing in size. He stopped in front of Dumac. He rose on his back legs. He reached about halfway up the Dwemer. His big green eyes blinked. The Dumac looked uneasy.
"He's just curious," Harry said. "He won't hurt you." He walked up to the dragon. "Come here malgein," he said as he picked the dragon up. He felt the tail wrap around him.
"Monah," Qozul said softly. He placed his head on the strange dragon's shoulder.
"Now that is far from normal," Dagnar said. "Dragons don't usually act like that around humans."
"I was born with a dragon's soul," Harry said. "I'm Dragonborn. That's… it makes dragons like me better than most. That I can talk to them helps as well." He looked down at the little dragon. "He calls me his mother. I think that's because I'm the first dragon he's met. I don't know that much about hatchlings though. Different species work in different ways."
Dumac shook his head. Harry Potter was full of surprises. Dragonborn. That was ancient magic far from their knowledge even if they did know of them. Maybe that explained why Harry had been taken to Nirn.
"So what do we do about this dragon?" Harry asked Dagnar.
"I am unsure. Crystalbacks are unknown to us in many ways," Dagnar said. "You say he has attached himself to you?"
"He calls me mother," Harry said.
"Crystalbacks lived in packs," Dagnar said. "If he wants you to be his mother I don't think separating you is wise."
"I go to school still," Harry said. "He would have to hide a lot."
"We'll get you rights to carry him around," Dagnar said. "You'll have to make up some reason that you would have him, but we can make sure it is legal. The good thing about Crystalbacks is that they don't grow very large. They aren't dangerous in the same way as other dragons are."
"If I can keep him hidden until summer I can easily make up some story about how I got him," Harry said. "I guess that could work." He looked down at Qozul. "Will you come with me, malgein?"
"Monah," Qozul said happily. "Qozul go with monah."
"Qozul has to hide," Harry said.
"Qozul can hide," Qozul said. He shrank until he was small enough for Harry to hold in the palm of his hand.
"I guess that's what Dagnar meant by size shifting," Harry muttered. "You can only come with me if you'll stay small unless I say otherwise, Qozul," he told the little one.
"Qozul will listen to monah," Qozul said. "Qozul go with monah?"
"Geh, but you can't be seen," Harry said. "I'll make you a charm that can hide you. Wrap around my neck, for now, malgein. We need to get going." Qozul flew up and wrapped around resized to fit around Harry's neck.
"Fascinating," Dagnar said. "I have never seen a dragon act like that before."
'His soul resonates with mine," Harry said. "I guess I'm his best chance of survival."
"I believe that you may very well be right and that is why I'll make sure you get the right to keep him," Dagnar said. "I might need a week or so to make it happen."
"Thank you friend Dagnar," Harry said. He followed Dagnar and Dumac into a big hall where long tables stood filled with food. The long tables lead up to a table facing the rest much like the Great Hall at Hogwarts. The hall was filled with dwemer.
Harry walked through the hall slowly. He was heading up to the head table where Chief Radac sat. "Radac, Head of Clan Magun I, Harry James Potter, have passed through the Pit," he said as he reached the high table.
Radac rose from the table. "I Radac, Head of Clan Alfknif, greet you Harry James Kato Peverell Potter as a full-fledged adult of the Alfknif Clan. Let it be known to all that this wizard, this battle-mage, this Dragonborn is now part of our Clan."
Harry turned around to the hall. "I, Harry James Kato Peverell Potter, greet Clan Alfknif as Dovahkiin." He roared the last part and he knew that everyone could feel his Thu'um. "You have not accepted a simple wizard into your ranks." He bowed to Chief Radac before walking down the length of one of the tables.
Dagnar waved him over. "Come sit with us," he said. "Eat!"
Harry chuckled. He did eat but since he'd eaten while down in the Pit he didn't have that much. He studied the Dwemer around him.
"Now what's with the hair clip," one of the goblins close to him asked as they ate.
Harry shrugged. "A good luck charm from a friend," he said.
"Oh, a lady friend."
Harry turned to the Dwemer next to him. "You're female right," he said somewhat carefully. He wasn't used to the way Dwemer looked and had evolved. He didn't want to assume things.
The Dwemer nodded. "That's right. Name is Glint," she said. "I'm a healer. Someone has to keep an eye on these idiots when they get themselves hurt. You don't have a scratch on you though."
"I am a Master Healer," Harry said. "I self-heal when I get hurt." He lifted a piece of meat so Qozul could eat it.
"That's good we need more Healers," Glint said.
"Master Harry needs to come back now," Winky said from behind Harry suddenly.
Harry turned around and looked down at her. "Trouble?" he asked.
"Miss Flower says you need to come back," Winky said. "Winky don't ask Miss Flower why."
Harry stood up. "I'll have to go. I'm trying to live two lives at once in a way and the other one is a mess," he said. "I apologise for my abruptness."
"No worries brother," Glint said.
"We will drink to your health brother do not worry," Dagnar said as he raised a cup.
Harry laughed. Then he looked around. "From where may I leave without being rude?" he asked.
Glint chuckled. She pointed towards a door and gave him directions to a travel room he could use. He could apparate from there.