Doors of Perception

Epilogue

They arrived in style: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Remus, Charlie and Professor Dumbledore himself. Idris was huge; almost eight feet long. The ministry had provided Charlie Weasley with the authority to move Idris in a commercial dragon container and the red dragon sat placidly inside his giant enclosure. Sirius was somewhat nervous approaching: Idris no longer looked like the reptile that had slept in a cardboard box in his garage.

He had been a bit anxious about meeting Charlie Weasley since he knew that Hermione had once been involved with him. Sirius didn't think that he'd be jealous, but it was difficult to tell. However, the way that Hermione broke away from the group when she saw him and came tearing down the hill to fling her arms around him told him that he had nothing to worry about. Sirius saw Ron and Harry exchange rolled eyes at this, but neither commented, and at that particular moment, Sirius didn't care anyway.

A discreet cough from Ginny warned them that Dumbledore was approaching. "Sirius," the headmaster greeted him, offering his hand, and Hermione broke from Sirius's arms with an embarrassed squeak.

"Headmaster," Sirius took the proffered hand, feeling very adult again. "It's nice to see you. I hope that the journey was smooth."

"As smooth as is possible when one is transporting an eight-foot dragon," Dumbledore smiled. "I was informed that we couldn't just Apparate because we needed eight able witches and wizards to control the container. I volunteered to be the eighth because I suspected that there was a plan afoot to meet up with you, and your location needs to be kept among as few of us as possible."

"Yes, Headmaster, I appreciate your coming."

"It's not often that I get to visit the mountains of Wales, Sirius my boy. And I too have a friend here I wish to see. I expect that the school can look after itself for one afternoon."

As he spoke a figure materialised from under a tree and crossed towards them. Hermione had been right: it wasn't Apparition, it was more subtle, more liquid, than that.

"This is Emrys," Dumbledore introduced the man with the blue eyes. "He is bound to this place and one with the nature itself. It is not often that we meet, old friend." The last part was directed to the man himself and Sirius watched the headmaster enfold his friend in his arms. "It has been a long time."

"It has." They smiled a smile of those sharing a private joke. "May I see the beast?"

Harry sprang forward to be introduced and to lead Emrys to where Idris was contained. Sirius was sure that the man's stride slowed and aged in the time it took to cross the damp grass. A theory began to form in his mind.

"Well, isn't he splendid?" smiled Emrys, his deep voice resonating off the earth itself. His hair lengthened and greyed and his face wrinkled as he stood there. The dragon lifted its head and gazed out of its opal eyes at the man standing in front of it, then, very slowly it bent its head to the ground in acknowledgement and Sirius's theory was confirmed. "I shall be honoured to have you fly among my dragons," Emrys said softly and a curl of smoke drifted from Idris's nostril.

Harry clambered up the side of the container to release the catch and the door sprang open. Very slowly, with an air of one making a discovery, or perhaps re-living a memory, Idris moved out onto the grass and spread his wings.

For a moment he stayed there, gleaming Gryffindor scarlet in the sunlight, then he caught an updraft and launched himself into space. Each beat of his lustrous wings sent a gust of wind across the faces of the onlookers, and then, almost faster than they could watch, he darted away and became a fleck of red light down the valley. Sirius could see that there were tears in Harry's eyes.

Emrys shook hands with each of the four teenagers and then Remus and embraced Dumbledore. When he approached Sirius, a young man once more, Sirius bowed formally. "It was an honour to meet you, Lord Myrddin," he said. Myrddin Emrys smiled before walking down the hill away from them. By the time he was halfway down they could hardly see him. He was gone before he reached the bottom.

"Myrddin Emrys?" Hermione breathed. "The great Merlin himself? How did I not work that out?" she sounded quite distressed at her shortcoming.

Sirius put an arm around her shoulder and looked down the valley to where the dragon was still testing his new-found freedom, and then back at his friends, his family: an old man with the cares of the world on his shoulders and the wisdom that comes from centuries of knowledge; the werewolf with the kind, forgiving heart who had, in the end, put Sirius's happiness above his own opinions; his godson, as brave and good as his parents; the red-haired boy with his sister and his brother who had stood beside him when he needed them the most; and in his arms, his dearest, dearest Hermione who loved him even if he was twice her age.

"Some things are just instinct," Sirius said, and he knew with complete certainty that whatever happened, these people loved him and he loved them.

The world is full of refugees

Just like you and just like me.

But as people we have a choice

To end the void with all its force...

'The Everlasting'

The Manic Street Preachers