Dragon Hunt

Draco awoke naked and sore and hanging from the wrists. He could feel the restraints not only on his body, but his magic as well. It was dark and cold and wet. He didn’t want to think about what had happened to him. He couldn’t bear to think of the past, even the past few hours. He was caught by the Dark Lord. He didn’t know where he was because he knew this was no place in the manor or anywhere else he’d been. His only relief was that he could feel the familiar silver chain on his neck. His mate. Right now, he had to focus on the next step.

He listened hard, hearing nothing but his own breath. Good. That meant he was alone, for now at least. He closed his eyes and concentrated, hoping against all hope that his mate could hear him. He screamed as loud as he could mentally. Harry!

He tried to focus on his mate. But his focus was quickly broken.

“Ahh, you’re awake, my faavvorite,” Voldemort hissed. Draco looked up through his matted hair and watched as his wand was snapped in half. And he knew he was truly helpless for the first time in his life.



“Harry!” Hermione shouted, punctuating her concern with a slap across her friend’s face.

Harry shot bolt upright, cradling his cheek in his palm. “Oww,” he complained weakly.

“You fainted,” Ron said quietly.

“It was more than that,” Hermione argued. “It was like some one flicked your off switch.”

“Huh?” Ron asked, confused by the reference.

Harry shook his head. “It was Draco. He called. I know where he is.”

“Is he all right?” Snape asked.

Harry growled in response. “He’s been better.”

“All right,” Sirius said coldly. “Snape take them back to Hogwarts. Start your riot at breakfast. We’ll make our way to Hogwarts as well as soon as we round everyone up. We’ll launch our attack from there the moment the Ministry meeting is called.”

Snape nodded and herded the Golden Trio towards the floo. Ron and Hermione disappeared. Harry grabbed a handful of powder and stepped in, but Snape stopped his departure by laying a hand on his elbow. “Wh—“

“I checked all of Malfoy manor while I was there.” Snape gave him a slow, warm smile. “Your son’s name is Leo.”

“Leo?” Harry asked as his lips tugged into a smile.

“Leo,” Snape affirmed. “Figures your son would be a lion,” he muttered. Harry dropped the powder and called out for his destination with a broad smile on his face.



“Eat up,” Hermione commanded. Harry ate slowly, his eyes darting about the room. Ron sat nervously staring straight ahead. “Ron!” Hermione called in a harsh whisper. “Eat!”

“Too nervous,” he mumbled, but picked up his spoon anyway. “So, what’s the plan?” he asked, turning to face his best mate.

“I’m going to go over to the Slytherin table. I’ll start it. Just protect your selves, okay?” Harry asked.

“We’ll do our best,” Hermione assured him. She reached across the table and gripped his hand to give him confidence. “Good luck, Harry. It’ll all be over soon.”

Harry nodded and stood. His two friends watched as he strode over to the Slytherin table and sat down as if he belonged there. The faces of all the Slytherins turned to face him, jaws slack and confused they stared as the Gryffindor Golden Boy made himself comfortable in the spot usually reserved for the absent Prince of Slytherin.

“What do you think you’re doing, Potter?!” Blaise Zambini snapped. Harry gave him a slow, withering glare and couldn’t help but think about the fact that this bastard had touched his mate in ways only he should.

But Harry swallowed back the rage and focused on what he needed to do. “I noticed that Malfoy’s seat was empty, figured I would keep it warm for him,” he said smoothly. He looked over towards Pansy. “I hear I’m more his type.” Pansy scoffed from her place beside Blaise. “But then again, I also hear he got some bird pregnant, so maybe it’s just you,” he smirked.

Harry noticed the nervous glances around the table, knew that these were the students charged with finding out who Draco had impregnated. Pansy cleared her throat and tried to act nonchalant. “What do you know of it, Potter?” she demanded.

Harry laughed. “It’s all over the school that you’re looking for Draco’s secret lover or something. I hear Malfoy didn’t waste any time continuing the line after Daddy died. But, I also hear that you weren’t wanted,” he smirked at Pansy, reaching for a slice of toast.

Crabbe reached out and snatched the food away before Harry had a chance. “Back off, Scarhead!” he shouted, gathering the attention of the entire hall.

“Has the little Deatheater run away to his Master?” Harry hissed. He could see faces around him swelling with anger. “When will you all run to your Master’s lap like dogs?”

That was enough. Wands were drawn all around, but Harry already had his out, aimed at Goyle beneath the table. Goyle yet out a yelp of pain and then curses began flying. Harry stood, pushing the bench backward hard and knocking a few of the Slytherins to the floor in the process. Harry found Ron and Hermione at his back when he’d regained his balance.

Curses were flying towards him and he managed to dodge most, though he took a few hits. And it wasn’t just the Slytherins and the Gryffindors. All the students seemed to be on their feet, gravitating towards one side of the hall or the other, showing their loyalties. They all fought. Harry heard voices shouting warnings, knew that professors had entered the fray, but he focused his attention on Pansy, one he knew to be capable enough and strong enough and just dumb enough to try it.

And then it came and he purposely allowed it to hit him. The Crutiatus. He’d felt it before, the pain like millions of slivers of glass coursing through his blood. His scream was deafening. When the pain eased, he managed to focus, seeing Neville with his wand at Pansy’s throat and a look of wrath on his face. Dumbledore had managed to seal the other Slytherins behind some sort of wall and the rest of the professors were taking wands from the other students.

The Headmaster gave Harry a subtle nod and then they all turned to focus on the Gryffindor holding the Slytherin hostage. Dumbledore gently eased Neville’s wand away from Pansy and then grabbed the girl by the ear, knocking her own wand to the floor. “Hagrid, see that the Slytherins make it back to their dormitories. All Heads of House should do the same. Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, you will accompany me. All other Professors will need to help Madame Pomfey with any wounded.”

Pansy was practically spitting complaints as Dumbledore escorted her towards his office. When she finally managed to tug away, Dumbledore calmly cast Petrificus Totalus and left her in the care of Professor Sprout. The Golden Trio obediently followed Dumbledore the rest of the way. Ron, Hermione and Harry all tried not to look anxious as Dumbledore stuck his head in the flames of the fire and began speaking.

When he stepped back and extinguished the flames, he smiled at the Golden Trio. “They’re calling an emergency meeting. It will begin promptly at nine.”

Harry nodded. “That gives us just over an hour to prepare.”

Dumbledore smiled. “I will be required to attend the Ministry meeting, but all other Professors and staff are to be contained here and continuing to sort out the mess you’ve managed to make.” His eyes were twinkling.

“Where are Sirius and the others?” Harry asked.

“In the library. I figured it would be the best place to gather, though you will all need to move into Hogsmead before you can apparate anywhere,” Dumbledore explained. “The Wards won’t let you apparate from here and the Ministry has shut down floo travel from here as well.”

“Understood, sir.” Harry spun on his heel to leave with Ron and Hermione following when Dumbledore’s voice called him back.

“Harry! You can’t defeat him using his own methods.”

“Sir?” he asked.

“There was a prophecy about the two of you,” Dumbledore admitted. Harry simply nodded, not at all surprised. “You have something he doesn’t, Harry. That’s what you need to defeat him.”

“Understood, sir,” Harry said quietly, turning again to leave.

“Good luck!” the Headmaster called after him. Harry didn’t respond, only led his friends directly to the library.



“The Ministry meets at nine sharp,” Harry announced as he walked into the library. “Dumbledore is required to attend. All other personnel and students are to be confined to the castle. Because of that floo travel is down, as well as the wards preventing apparition. We’ll need to walk into Hogsmeade to prepare to apparate.”

Sirius nodded. “We apparate in and attack. Killing Voldemort straight off, while probably the easiest way to kill him, isn’t an option. We need to give him the chance to call Deatheaters so that we can kill them as well.”

“Let’s get on the road then. Where’s Snape?” Harry asked.

“Unknown, but we can’t wait for him,” Remus said quickly. “Dumbledore said he had not seen or heard from him since very early this morning.”

“I’m here,” a voice said softly from the door. “I here that you are great at causing trouble,” Snape commented to Harry as he stepped up to the group.

“You’ve been telling me that for years. It gave me the confidence to actually do it,” Harry said with a smile. “Where have you been?”

“Summoned,” Snape said quickly with a subtle scratch to his forearm.

“Draco?” Harry asked nervously.

Snape shook his head. “It’s bad, Harry,” he said quietly. “Voldemort requested Veritaserum. He’s search for the witch who holds Draco’s heir in her belly.”

“Well, he’ll definitely never find that,” Ron grumbled.

Harry could help being amused by his friend, but he kept his focus on Snape. “Draco has gone silent. He’s not even screaming and believe me he should be.” Anger and fear rushed through Harry’s veins. “While I was there, Voldemort got a message of the problems here. He’s given me leave to stay here and protect his youngest followers.”

“If you go with us and we are unsuccessful, your cover will be blown,” Remus pointed out.

“Let it,” Snap said. “I can’t witness anymore of his insanity. After today, I wash my hands of him. I’ll do what I can for the Order, but never will I even feign to be his servant again.”

The group nodded with understanding. “Let’s move.” Harry turned to lead the group from the room. “I know a passage that will take us directly to Honeydukes.”

Snape rolled his eyes. “Why am I not surprised?”