Dragon Hunt

“You said before that dragons were weakened by feeding the egg.”

“It’ll grow progressively worse,” Charlie said.

“By the end, I’ll—“

“Weak as a newborn kitten, I expect. If you make it that long,” Charlie said laughing lightly. At the glare from the pair, he turned serious. “I’m kidding, but you should both talk to Snape about potions that may help. These are dangerous times to be so weak.” Draco nodded grimly. “Now, may I ask you both a million questions? This time on the record?”

Harry nodded reluctantly and Draco rolled his eyes. Charlie dug through his robes for the dreaded Quicknotes Quill. First thing he did was ask Harry to take the egg out of the room and cast a million diagnostic spells. Harry went to chair, lifted the egg out and took it into the bathroom for over a half an hour before he was called back. He placed it in the rumpled bed. When he returned to take the chair for his own seat, Draco had already slid into. He moved to sit on the couch by Charlie, but Draco pulled him back. With a flick of his wand, the chair expanded to a loveseat just wide enough for them both to sit closely. Harry didn’t mind. He was tired and wouldn’t mind falling asleep on his mate’s shoulder. He took a ham sandwich from the tray and sat with his mate.

Charlie asked a million questions which they answered as honestly and frankly as they could. Everything from the sound of the purr to their telepathy and seeming empathy for eachother. Charlie even asked about sex: something he’d been squeamish about before. They admitted that they both topped, though Harry seemed to more often. Harry also explained how Draco seemed to self-lubricate and when Charlie looked confused, he explained the finer points of anal sex and the importance of proper lubrication and stretching. They spoke of little things they felt in the bond: the way their skin seemed to spark whenever they touched, the way Draco watched Harry’s dreams with him, the way Harry smelled to Draco (something even Harry had not been aware of). Charlie never seemed to want to stop. His methods were cold and clinical, yet respectful.

It wasn’t until Harry was completely asleep curled against his dragon that Draco was able to divert Charlie from the interrogation. “Dragons mate for life, correct?” he asked.

Charlie looked startled by the question. “Yes. A dragon has one mate. They seek out that mate, bond, and live together practically as one entity. Why do you ask?”

“You’ve never heard of a dragon coupling with another who is not his mate?” Draco asked curiously. He felt Harry’s grip on his thigh subtly tighten and knew that while Harry wasn’t awake, he was subconsciously hearing the conversation.

Charlie shook his head. “No. It’s impossible. The bond between a pair of dragons wouldn’t stand for it.” He regarded Draco, who just sat pensively watching Harry sleep. “Why do you ask? Is there someone else besides Harry?” he asked almost cruelly.

“No!” Draco snapped immediately and then quickly lowered his voice. “Why would you assume the affair would be on my side any way? I’m the actual dragon, remember?”

Charlie laughed, but when he caught Draco’s significant look at Harry, he stopped and lowered his voice. “Please, I think we both know Harry’s gone through some sort of change as well.”

“What do you mean?” Draco’s confusion was obvious.

“You may be able to turn into a dragon, breath fire, fly, and lay eggs, but Harry’s gained telepathy, empathy, a fierce need for your presence. You’ve obviously never seen him when he’s separated from you, but he’s completely mad, frantic. Not exactly human, you know?” Charlie teased.

“You’re saying he’s a dragon too?”

Charlie shrugged. “No, there’d be no logical reason for that, exactly, but I believed he has changed. He’s adapted to be the mate to a dragon.” Draco had never really thought about it. He put it all on him. He’d never thought that they were truly changes in Harry. “He’s your mate, Draco. He has changed to accommodate that. And he is as attached to you as you to him, maybe more so.”

“Why do you say that?” Draco asked. But even as he asked that, he remembered yesterday before he had come clean about Voldemort’s intentions. Harry had been willing to . . . .

“Look, I don’t pretend to know Harry well, but I’ve seen him with my family and with Sirius, and I’ve heard things about—Look, Harry never had a family. He never had anyone who loved him unconditionally. He’s never felt like he was part of that kind of relationship. It’s not that people don’t love him, but he has no family. He sees you as his mate and because of that, he thinks of you as family and he would do anything to keep that. He’s proud, but not proud enough not to swallow it whole if it meant keeping you. That’s not the dragon mating urge I’m talking about. It’s the basic human need. Harry has opened himself up to you in a way he’s never—Forget it. I don’t know what I’m saying. I’m not some sort of Muggle psychowhatever.”

Draco had stopped listening to him halfway through his babbling. If I am just a convenient outlet for the dragon’s biological urges, then I accept that as my place, Harry had said. Draco felt sick at the memory. Draco needed to make sure Harry felt loved and needed. He needed to make sure that Harry knew that Draco felt the same way. They were a family.

“Anyway,” Charlie said as he stood. “Get him to bed. For sleep. I’ll be back again tomorrow.”

“More questions?” Draco groaned.

“I have a feeling that I may never run out of those. But, I will try not to come quite so early.” Charlie looked down at Draco. “When are you no longer going to be blue?”

Draco only laughed and said his goodbye. He waited a long time after Charlie left, just watching Harry sleep. Harry looked so peaceful, so innocent when he slept.


Charlie, Snape, Remus and Dumbledore watched as Sirius paced the length of the kitchen as Snape spilled all he knew about Voldemort’s plans for the ministry. Unfortunately, he didn’t know much. He would attack the Ministry’s offices over the holidays. Security would still exist, but so many employees took time off during that time that there would be less resistance. From there, they would have all the resources of the executive office: the secrets of the entire wizarding world and enough information to track and kill every wizard who ever opposed his rule.

“But how does he plan to get past security?” Sirius asked.

Dumbledore only shrugged and answered for Snape. “He hasn’t made that known as of yet.”

“Ridiculous,” Sirius muttered beneath his breath.

“Agreed, but—“ Snape was reluctant to speak of Draco’s impending engagement to Voldemort. It would be embarrassing, shameful to the young wizard, but if they were to plan a defense, they needed all the information. “What I am about to speak of does not leave this room.”

Sirius rolled his eyes. Remus rolled his eyes at his lover and turned to Snape. “Agreed.”

Snape took a long breath. “It was not known to me or Draco at the time, but apparently, before his death, Lucius had arranged a marriage for his son.”

“Pansy Something or other,” Sirius prompted.

“No, that fell through as soon as Draco’s preferences were discovered. There was another arrangement. One much more beneficial to Lucius. It seems that the Dark Lord had taken an interest in Draco, lusted for the power a dragon could bring, and lusted for a lithe young blond in his bed.” Snape cleared his throat and waited for the information to settle in the three men around him. “His intentions have not changed.”

“Does Draco know?” Remus asked.

“I have informed him,” Snape answered easily. Charlie bit his lip, now seeing the motives behind some of Draco’s questions.

“Does Harry know?” Sirius asked.

Snape shrugged. “I have urged my godson to let his mate know the full extent of the Dark Lord’s plans for him, but I do not know if he has followed my advice.”

Dumbledore nibbled on more candy before commenting. “It will be quite difficult for the young lovers to separate. But, there is no way around it. Not with this threat looming.”

“Harry will go mad if Draco has to—“ Sirius started and then shook his head. “It’s too disgusting to think about.”

“Draco takes his responsibilities to the Order very seriously,” Snape said. “He’ll do it if he has to. I just hope that it doesn’t cost him the only person he will ever love.”



The end of the week that their stunt had bought them loomed. Harry had done an extremely thorough examination of Draco to ensure no trace of blue remained. And then he double and triple checked. The egg was taking its toll on Harry. Draco had finally been able to convince his godfather to give him a supply of potions meant to restore magical energies (without explanation), but Harry was still drained. Even Draco was beginning to feel the effects.

Finally Snape pressed the issue and they returned to classes. Harry was lucky to pass his continued exhaustion to lingering effects of the curse Draco had supposedly hit him with. And ‘luckily’ Hermione had been keeping track of everything he missed. Including somehow to procure copious notes for the classes that Harry had that she didn’t. She even extended her diligence to Draco, who only managed to look at her like she’d grown a new head when she handed his packet over.

“She’s serious,” Harry whispered.

Draco managed to regain his senses and took the offered package. “Thank you, Granger.”

“Hermione works just fine,” she said with a smile.

“Hermione,” Draco said softly. “Harry’s not been feeling well. You’ll keep an eye on him when I can’t?” he asked.

Hermione smiled broadly. “Glad too. Ron will as well, I’m sure. It’s good that you asked, makes me a little more comfortable with you being with my best friend if I know you really care for him.”

“I do,” Draco said seriously. “I love him.”

“I’m sitting right here,” Harry interrupted.

Draco rolled his eyes. “It’s not like I’m telling her something you don’t know.”

Hermione giggled at the pair. “I’ve got to head down to dinner before I’m missed, but I will see you both tomorrow, okay?”