Dragon Hunt

“Don’t touch my mate!” Draco growled.

Charlie shook his head and raised his hands in innocence. “I’m only trying to help.”

The dragon seemed to realize the harshness of his behavior. “I’m sorry. And I know that. I—“ Draco shook his head and ignored Charlie while he tried to figure out what to say. Instead, he stripped down his mate, all the while blocking him from the red-head’s view. He then tenderly lifted Harry in his arms and carried him off to the bath.

When he had Harry settled into the bath, he faced Charlie. “I don’t know what came over me. It’s just that Harry is my world and I’m terrified right now. What is happening?!” he demanded.

Charlie took a deep breath. “I’ve been researching. One of the diagnostic spells I did on him indicates that he has dragon blood in him.”

“Could the restoration potions—“

“Even if Severus used Dragon’s Blood in the potions that Harry has been taking, it would not be in him in this quantity. Harry’s own blood seems to have properties similar to dragon’s blood.”

“I don’t understand,” Draco said. He conjured a cup and poured warm water over Harry’s chest.

Charlie took a deep breath. “You have Dragon’s Blood, Draco. I found that out when I first examined you after your transformation. I didn’t think much of it because it made sense. And I think, somehow, as you’ve been combining magical energies that the properties of your blood have—for lack of a better word—infected Harry.”

“You’re telling me that I’ve poisoned him?”

Charlie shook his head. “I was researching in the Forbidden section of the library. It seems that centuries ago, Dark Wizards used to dose themselves with dragon blood believing that it would give them additional power. It didn’t quite work, though in some wizards, there were side effects.”

“What kind of side-effects?” Draco asked worriedly.

“In some cases the blood tried to convert the wizard into a cold-blooded creature, as some dragons are, and killed them. In others, they gained attributes of a dragon similar to yours, with the exception of actual shape changing. But the effects lasted only a limited time and attempts to recreate those outcomes resulted in, well, combustion. The amount of blood used, magic infused into the wizard cause them to literally burn up.”

“Thus regulating his temperature,” Draco said, feeling Harry’s forehead again. “He’s warming up.”

“Good. Now. Here’s the good news and the puzzling news. You and Harry never actually exchanged blood, only magical energies. Because of that, I think the effects that Harry is exhibiting will subside safely. However, because of that, I’m also confused as to why Harry seems to have Dragon Blood.” Charlie chewed on his lip.

“You have a theory,” Draco said.

“Yes, but—it doesn’t make sense.” Draco only glared. “Before this. Before even the egg, Harry was exhibiting changes indicating that was taking on attributes of a dragon: the telepathy, the need for his mate, the empathy, but . . .”

“But?“

“His body was adapting to accommodate you. This may just be a further accommodation brought on by the sharing of magics. A human wasn’t meant to come in contact with dragon magic like Harry has been doing over the last weeks. But he has had to in order to serve his role as the parent of your offspring. His body has probably been adapting in order to do that,” Charlie theorized.

“But—“

“You yourself told me that Harry controls your combined magic when you push it into the egg. That means Harry has been controlling dragon magic, something a human being have never been able to do without actually having something of a dragon to focus the energy through: blood, a scale, a tooth, a claw. He now has something of a dragon naturally,” Charlie finished. “Because of you.”

“I did this to him? I cursed him like this?” Draco said sadly.

Charlie looked confused. “Do you consider yourself cursed, Draco? The dragon in you has given you power and abilities and a mate. Is that a curse?”

“No, not for me, but Harry—“

Charlie laughed. “I’m telling you that everything is going to be fine, Draco. Harry is going to be fine and stronger than ever before.” He grabbed Draco, forcing him to look at him and away from Harry. “This is good, Draco, so relax and enjoy it.”

Draco shook off his hands. “I’ll relax when Harry wakes up with all this strength you’re talking about.”

“Understandable,” Charlie admitted. “Keep his temperature regulated and just let him sleep. Don’t give him potions or do spells to try to wake him. I believe he’s asleep to give his body time to adjust. He’ll wake up when he’s ready.”

“And the egg?” Draco asked.

“You say that it is independent. It needs to be kept at a regulated temperature: keep it warm, but don’t cook it, definitely don’t freeze it. Don’t drop it or play rugby with it and that egg will be fine. Still no spells, though, okay?”

“Okay,” Draco said.

“I’ll be back tomorrow to check on everything. Take care of your mate and your offspring.” Draco nodded and knelt beside the tub. He used his conjured cup and continued to pour water over Harry’s skin. He cast a quick charm to tell him what Harry’s body temperature was: 37°. That was pretty average. But he frowned, thinking about it and checked his own: 40°. If Harry was turning into a dragon, it made sense that their body temperatures should be the same. He cast another charm to heat the water further.

“Harry, you’d make me feel so much better if you would just wake up, you know?” Draco asked the silent room. He rubbed his face and stood, walking back to the bedroom.

He scooped the egg up into his arms and had to reach an arm out to grab the bedpost in order to steady himself. The feeling was overwhelming. The egg had always felt special and alive, but now it purred. He finally realized how Harry felt around him. The sound was beautiful and comforting. And he knew what was inside somehow. It was his son, their son.

He steadied himself and carried the egg into the bathroom, conjured a table next to the tub and placed the egg on it, nestled in a towel so that it wouldn’t roll away. Draco lifted Harry’s hand from the bath and rested it on the smooth shell of the egg. With the three of them connected, such a feeling of peace washed over Draco that he almost forgot his worry for Harry. “Wake up, love,” he whispered again as he settled himself on the floor to wait.




“Draco!”

Draco jerked awake. “In here!” he called. Automatically, he covered the egg with a towel and checked Harry’s body temperature, seeing it had risen to match his own.

Snape stepped into the bathroom just as Draco had cast the charm to raise his mate’s body from the tub. “For the—!” Snape complained. “How many times do I have to see Potter naked?”

Draco growled as he turned. “I told you where I was, not invite you in,” he seethed. Snape backed out of the room, leaving Draco. Draco toweled off the floating body and conjured a pair of loose pajama pants to pull over his mate’s body. He then pulled him into his arms and carried him to the bed, settling him silently as his godfather watched. He disappeared into the bathroom, carrying the egg, still wrapped in towels and placed it next to Harry and covering them both.

“Now what?” Draco snapped harshly, finally looking to his potions professor.

“The Dark Lord has called a meeting.” Snape watched the tender care Draco was showing his lover and mate.

“About what?” Draco asked distractedly, focusing on Harry.

“He gave no hint, but the attack on the ministry is less than a month away. I assume it is in regards to that. The Order is mostly prepared from the information your house elves have been supplying, but this may be the meeting for final details. He is adamant that you be there,” Snape added.

“When do we go?” Draco asked.

“Immediately. He no longer seems concerned with your cover, Draco. He wants his consort with him,” Snape explained.

Draco snorted. “He doesn’t see me as a consort and we both know that.” Bile rose in his throat just thinking about Voldemort.

“Draco, we have to go,” Snape urged again.

The dragon nodded mutely, brushing his fingers through Harry’s damp hair. “Dobby!” he called. The houseelf appeared with a pop. “Watch Harry and everything you’ve been watching for us before.” Dobby nodded knowingly. “If Harry undergoes any changes, you contact Charlie Weasley immediately, do you understand me?”

“Dobby understands. Dobby will guard and protect.”

“Good. Only Charlie and Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger are to enter this room until I return, all right?”

“Dobby will take care of Harry Potter!” the little elf said excitedly.

Draco leaned down and kissed hair tenderly on the mouth. “You are my life, love. This will all be over soon and then we will never be parted again.” Draco turned back to his godfather. “Let us go, then,” he said coldly. He stood from his place and stepped over to the wardrobe. He lifted out a long black robe and pulled it on over the muggle attire he’d stolen from Harry.