Dragon\'s Den

Dragon's Den
Chapter 3
First Flight

"Blaise! Where are you!" Draco yelled from the Zambini Manor fire place.

"Up here! And this better be good mate 'cause you've interrupted me in the middle of a shag!" came his annoyed voice from the top of the stairs.

"Your sex life can wait! It's officially the end of the world as we know it!" Draco yelled back taking the stairs two at a time.

"Last night was the end of your life, today’s the end of the world... what’s tomorrow?" Blaise called back laughing "What the hell happened to you?" he exclaimed getting up from his sofa at the pitiful sight of his friend as he came threw the door.

“Got in a rather nasty fight with the wrong person" came the gruff reply.

Draco had fresh scabs and claw marks running along his body, his clothes where ripped and torn, even burned in some areas, he had cleaned the wounds as best he could but Draco was never very good with healing charms.

"With who? A meat cleaver!" Blaise hissed getting his wand to do basic healing charms on the more severe slashes and burn marks.

"No, my mother. I tell you that woman is lethal!"

"Why in the 9 hells would your mother do this to you?"

"Because I tried to kill her" Draco answered as if he had just said he had tried to offer her flowers.

Blaise froze looking at Draco as if he was insane, which he probably was at the time of the incident. He tried to gulp and speak but no sound came out. What do you say to someone who just told you they tried to off their mother?

"Why?" Blaise finally managed to ask after a time.

"I imprinted today"

"Okay and this is relevant because..." Blaise was confused; he couldn't see the link between wanting to murder someone and imprinting.

"I imprinted on the Mudblood, on Granger" Draco continued in a tight voice ignoring Blaise's question.

That was unexpected, and even then that term was way too loose, Blaise just blinked dumbly at Draco as it sank in before bursting out in uncontrollable laughter, holding his sides as tears came to his eyes.

Draco just glared at his best mate, he couldn't really be angry with him. Wouldn't he have had the same reaction if someone had told him yesterday that his chosen one was the one and only Granger? Blaise finally calmed down enough to continue his healing charms, still laughing every now and then as Draco chewed the inside of his cheeks to keep from hurting Blaise.

"Then what happened?" Blaise finally asked, seeing Draco was not going to be the first to talk.

"We went after her and we found her in the Book store, she was with the Weasley girl, Mother dragged me to the second story-"

"Why would she drag you to the second story?"

"Because I was about to grab her and escape like some kind of barbarian and have her all to myself"

Blaise whistled at the answer as he finished up with the last slash that ran across Draco's chest.

"Father went up to talk to the girls and then Weaslebee came out of no where and grabbed her, hurt her." Draco swallowed, just the memories of it was enough to make him angry again. "And I wanted to kill him"

"You know your starting to have a list of people lined up for murder" Blaise said trying to lighten the mood. "He was probably trying to protect her from your father; they don't exactly have your family in high esteem after second year with that blasted diary you know"

"I know that" Draco spat "My mother is the only reason that weasel is still alive! She apparated out of the store with me and I was so angry I tried to take it out on her"
"Is she hurt?" Blaise asked a little afraid of the answer.

"No, I barely have a tenth of the abilities she has. My bloods not fully awoken, she handed me my ass on a silver platter"

Blaise chuckled at that, conjuring up fire whiskey and 2 glasses, handing one of them to Draco as he filled his up to the brim. Draco eyes the glass in his friends hand with a raised eyebrow.

"hey, I can't even have a sex life with a friend like you! At least let me have my alcohol!"

Draco laughed and downed the liquid in one go, making a face as it burned it's way down to his stomach.

"So does she know?" Blaise finely asked.

Draco froze in the process of reaching for the bottle.

"Thought so" Blaise said taking another sip.

"What the hell am I suppose to do? She hates my guts and we never got along! I don't think walking up to her and saying 'hey mudblood you’re my mate so get use to it' will work"

Blaise sighed as Draco took another swallow of the amber liquid.

"You can start by calling her by her family name" Blaise suggested and continued before Draco finished his swallow to comment on that "And try to have a pleasant conversation without insulting each other"

Only Blaise would actually have an unbiased reasoning for something as serious as this. Blaise was practical and rational, trying to view everything in every way possible before making a decision. He also tried to stay neutral with everyone, the only Slytherin that had no enemies outside his own house.

"We have never, and I repeat, never had a conversation that finished without one insulting the other Blaise" Draco replied stubbornly.

"I wonder why?" Blaise answered sarcastically.

Draco scowled at Blaise and took another swig of the amber liquid.

"Fine so now I have to try and convince the mu... Granger that I’m not evil and hope to Merlin she won't go into hysterics when she discovers who she really is."

Blaise raised an eyebrow

"What do you mean?"

"She's the Dragon queen, the one that’s suppose to lead us all to battle against the dark lord" he said raising his glass as if to toast on the comment before downing the content of it in his mouth and reaching for the bottle again.

"... Excuse me but I’m not quite familiar with this one, care to elaborate?" Blaise asked patiently.

"A prophecy was told around the same time as my birth. It said that my chosen one was going to be the Queen of dragons, the one person that has absolute power over Bahamut’s children, meaning us."

Blaise just gave Draco a blank look and Draco sighed again, how could he explain this?
"You know how everyone keeps saying Granger is the brightest and most talented witch?" Draco was surprised that her name rolled off his tongue so easily.

"Yeah"

"That’s because the dragon blood that runs threw her veins is so potent and powerful, it's the dragon god’s blood" Draco paused "The celestial Dragon chose a muggle girl that would otherwise have no power to become queen of his people"

"And she has no clue" Blaise said slowly, now catching on to how serious this actually was.

"No she doesn't. She and the Weasley girl bought the book Father had mentioned. Their only starting to dig the surface of their roles in the upcoming war, a fortune teller told them the prophecy and Granger was pretty shaken up"

"She doesn't want to believe" Blaise deduced, Granger always thought divinations was useless.

"She won't have a choice but to believe once she finishes that book" Draco growled out getting up to leave. "Thanks for everything mate" Draco added walking to the door of the bedroom.

"No problem, but next time please chose a time where you won't be disrupting any of my more important activities"

Draco laughed "no promises" He called back going down the stairs toward the fireplace.

**************************

Hermione and Ginny where lying on one of the two beds of their bedroom at the inn, the Famous Dragon book opened in front of them. They had just finished skimming across the characteristics of the metallic dragons when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in" Ginny called out getting up from the bed and stretching the kinks in her neck.

"It's me" Came Ron's uneasy voice as he opened the door.

Hermione stiffened a little and Ginny frowned. Ron had been a pain all evening. Sulking in a corner as Harry tried to make him see Hermione's point of view but still acknowledging the fact that Ron had done what he thought was right.

"What’s up" Hermione finally asked, sitting up on the bed. She didn't want to make things worst then they where and giving attitude was not going to help.

"I wanted to talk to you both about what happened at the library" Ron started, trying to test the waters and see if the two sharks where still out for his head.

Hermione pointed the bed across from them and Ron took a seat.

"I'm sorry" Ron shot out after a time and it looked pretty painful to get those words out.

"For what?" Ginny asked, crossing her arms over her chest but shrugged when Hermione gave her a warning look.

"I should have known better then to think you girls couldn't handle what ever danger there was... and your right, you don't need to be rescued all the time when your the one who does half the rescuing"

Hermione smiled at Ron.

"Thank you Ron, that was very noble of you" Hermione smiled and then added with a teasing voice "and if ever I need a night in shining armour you'll be the first to know"

Ron smiled; clearly relieved the fight was over.

"That doesn't mean I approve of your being nice to the ferret boy's family you know" Ron added after getting up to get to the door.

"I know that" Hermione laughed.

"Good night Ron" Ginny said, trying to hint that it was time for him to go.

"Yeah, good night girls" Ron replied, looking at Hermione one last time before closing the door.

"Well, you owe me 15 galleons Ginny, cough ‘em up" Hermione exclaimed grinning madly.

"Why couldn't he wait till morning" Ginny grumbled tossing the bag of coins at Hermione who was laughing victoriously.

"Because your brother can never sleep with a guilty conscious, just like you. it gives him nightmares"

Ginny harrumphed plopping herself beside Hermione sitting Indian style.

"So we learned that there where 11 different dragons, classed in 3 different categories. All of them have at least 1 lethal breath attack and the more powerful the dragon the more different types of breaths he has." Hermione recited still turning the pages of the book.

"Sleep, slow, stun, repulsion, weakness, paralyze, fire, lighting, ice, acid and even pure blast of raw magic" Ginny counted off of her fingers.

"Hey listen to this, the metallic and Minor dragons all share the ability to appear human, sometimes after imprinting, see page 264 for more information on imprinting, to a human. They often assume the guise of an attractive counterpart to seduce and mate with them producing a very powerful and magically inclined half breed, or dragon child. Many believe that the wizards of today are descendants of such children"

"Freaky" Ginny chuckled as she toyed with a string to get Croockshanks to play.

Hermione froze when she came up to the next paragraph of text. Ginny looked up frowning at the sudden silence.

"I don't believe it..." Hermione whispered.

"Believe what?"

Hermione passed the book to Ginny and she read the passage and gasped.

"The...the dragon blood will pass from parent to child and only the designated heirs will be able to awaken it, Gold, bronze and copper blood can only be awoken by female heirs. Silver and Brass blood can only be awoken by male heirs. As for the minor Dragons the conditions are much stricter, they must be the first born of the family and the blood must be concentrated enough. Because the blood was severely diluted over the millennium there are almost no more minor dragon children. The easiest way to know if the child is an heir is when the dreams start to occur. They will often dream of flying, food and mating. Males will have more pronounced dreams of mating then the female heirs, driving them to seek out their chosen one and court her. The dreams will stop when the chosen one of the dragon child's affection returns these desires. Male dreams will often become more vivid after finding their chosen, often causing them to sometimes forcefully pursue their chosen. Another sure clue is the physical pain the child will be in during the period of adaptation, their appetite will increase ten fold, males more then females as they will prepare to protect, defend and win over their future mate. "

Ginny gulped.

"This can't mean that I’m... that I’m a dragon... right?" Ginny said laughing nervously.

"You tell me. Dreaming of sex with Harry, flying over cliffs and canyons and not to mention the 4 heaping portions of food you ate for supper. Didn’t you say you where in constant pain and that even pain potions never worked to get rid of it? And then you finally get the nerve to tell Harry you love him and your dreams suddenly stop?"
Ginny's eyes suddenly began to tear up.

"I don't want to be a monster" she sniffed.

"Hey" Hermione said softly.

She gathered Ginny in her arms and rocked her, doing her best to comfort her.
"You’re not a monster Ginny. We can figure out a way to control it so you don't swallow professor Snape the next time he gives a T in potions OK?"

Ginny laughed shakily.

"I’d be doing the world a favour if I did that"

"Indeed, come on lets get to bed. We have to get up early tomorrow anyways"

"Mione?"

"Yes"

"What... dragon do you think is my ancestor?" Ginny was testing this new found knowledge and it was still to raw for her to be use to the idea.

"Either Gold, Bronze or Copper obviously. They said each dragon had certain characteristics... I think it would be the copper"

"Because of the color of my hair?"

"That... and lets face it, the Weasley's have more then their fair share of pranksters"

Ginny laughed and got up to her bed.

"Hermione?"

"Yes"

"If I am a dragon child... will you and Harry love me any less?"

"No Ginny, I won’t and neither will Harry. I promise you that."

Ginny smiled and got into bed just as Hermione got into hers with Croockshanks curling up next to her.

"Good night Mione"

"Good night Gin"

********************************

Draco was soaring in the skies, revelling in the feel of the wind whipping on his face, of the freedom he felt. Flying with a broom was good, this was amazing. It was a dream he knew well, a dream he had every night but never quite so vivid. He folded his wings and let himself free fall before unfurling them and catching an updraft that propelled him into the great night sky. He laughed as he dipped his left wing, spiralling wildly toward earth before shooting up like an arrow. The cold temperature didn't bother him, even if he was shirtless, the dark was just as clear as day to his eyes that shined silvery blue, the noises of the wind, the dears digging to find hidden vegetation so clear to him. Every smell so distinct, the smell of the snow, the smell of rain his body seemed to emanate, the intoxicating smell of vanilla...

Draco's head whipped around toward the source of it. He was no longer flying over mountains of eternal snow and ice glaciers but over a meadow with trees surrounding it, he could smell water farther out, he felt so hungry all of a sudden.

Draco swiftly changed course and flew at dizzying speed toward the smell that called to him, flying over the small lake he saw the figure as clearly as if she had been put under a spot light. She was sitting on a fallen log at the edge of the water, her feet submerged and softly kicking bubbles as she drew patterns in the sand. Draco landed without making a sound and slowly stalked the figure with the soft curly brown hair; Hermione seemed to be completely oblivious to what was going on as the Dragon child approached her from behind. Draco's senses had completely clouded over with the sweet smell of the creature before him. So much so that he forgot to mind his footing and walked over a branch that gave way with a loud snap. Draco froze as Hermione jumped up in surprise, whirling around to face him with a scared expression on her face. The sweet smell changed to something less pleasant as fear registered over her features. Draco didn't like that smell on her, he much preferred the smell of fire when she was angry, or the smell of candy floss when she was embarrassed.

Hermione took a step back and Draco realized she had every intention of running away from him. He couldn’t blame her, the sight of him must be frightening, great silver scaled wings on his back with dark blue sales, his eyes that seemed to burn silvery blue, dark silver claws.

Hermione took another step back and started to turn away from him but he was faster. Draco caught Hermione's wrist making her turn around, Draco pulled her forward, his other hand reaching for the back of head and the scream died a fast death on her lips as Draco possessively took her mouth. He felt her freeze in shock and he took the opportunity to pull her toward him and fold his wings around them, keeping her to him as he slowly coaxed her to respond to him.

Hermione moaned and reached up to dig her hand in his hair as Draco growled his encouragement, releasing her lips and trailing his own over her jaw and neck, delighting in the sounds of her mewling.

Hermione cried out but that sound was swiftly swallowed as Draco kissed her more forcefully, working his fingers against her most intimate area revelling in the panting and gasping as her body trembled against his.

"Be mine, surrender to me Mione" Draco purred in her ear as she bit down on her lips.
Draco shot out of bed, howling as his body was racked with a wave of pain so intense it could only compared to crucio. He fell to the floor with a loud thud and cried out again as a fresh wave overtook him, this time concentrated between his shoulder blades, head and finger tips.

Lucius and Narcissa ran in the room flicking their wands to light the candles as they approached Draco who was curled in a ball on the floor panting and screaming.

"It’s alright Draco just try to stay calm" Lucius encouraged keeping a safe distance from his son.

Draco had turned and snarled at him, his teeth had radically changed to those of a great carnivore and his eyes burned with a frightening intensity.

"It’s all right Draco it will be over soon, I promise" Narcissa encouraged as Draco howled again, trying to claw at his skin.

Draco thought he was going to go mad with pain, he felt his finger nails getting longer and sharper, felt his teeth change as well, if only his father had told him it was going to be this painful, he could have at least mentally prepared himself for it. He howled again as his back arched up, there was a tearing noise as the fabric of his sleeping t-shirt gave way to great silver scaled wings; the sales of it shined a dark silvery blue. Draco was panting, his body trembling as he lay face first on the floor, trying to get his bearings back from such a painful experience.

"Draco" Narcissa whispered as she tentatively approached her son.

Draco was on his feet in seconds and he ran to his balcony.

"Draco no!" Narcissa cried out but was restrained by her husband.

Draco jumped of the balcony head first as if he had done it his entire life and beat his new wings with new found strength. He felt like he had just been released from a cage. He flew away from Malfoy Manor as fast as he could breathing in the new smells as his newly sharpened senses took in everything at the same time. Soaring high in the clouds before folding his wings and falling, Draco cried out as adrenaline rushed threw his system. The freedom of his first flight was intoxicating and he spread his wings wide skimming a few tree tops.

Draco caught a movement farther away and he felt his mouth water at the sight, a stag was running in the woods a little farther away and Draco gracefully veered in it's direction, the animal started to run faster, sensing danger but wasn't fast enough as he folded his wings, letting himself fall on the stags back. Claws and teeth berried in the animals hide as it desperately tried to escape its attacker.

With one swift movement of his head, Draco snapped the stag’s neck and fell in a heap on the ground. He smirked down at his kill, rather pleased with himself.

Draco disentangle himself from the dead stag and took a deep breath, he exhaled a jet of bright flames on the carcase and once it was cooked to his liking he sat down in front of it, carefully folding his wings around him and began to eat.

When he was finished with the animal Draco sighed with the feeling of being pleasantly stuffed. He got up from the ground and spread his wings, now taking the time to really look at them.

They stood at 13 feet wing tip to wing tip; they resembled bat wings with the thumb of the wing sticking out with a sharp claw. They looked fragile in appearance but Draco knew better then that. He had tried slashing his mother’s wings with his claws and it was like trying to slash rock.

Draco found himself pondering his next move, he had fed so his hunger was taken care of, but there was a different kind of hunger he wanted to desperately take care of as well.
Draco crouched down and launched himself to take flight; he knew exactly where he was going.

He veered toward London, toward her.