Stormseeker: Borrowed Destiny

Chapter 67: Dragon Master

---

It's almost the full moon before I get a reply back from the headmistress of the Salem Witches' Institute.

"Dear Mr. Potter," she writes. "This is most irregular and unexpected, but I would be delighted to participate in such an esteemed event. I will be honored to consider you to be one of my students this year. Do not be put off by the name of our fine school. We have been co-ed for over a century now. I will arrive on November 21st, and I will bring one of our uniforms for you to wear as well. Sincerely, Susan Lawson, Headmistress of the Salem Witches' Institute."

I pass this message along to Dumbledore and the other adults involved in the tournament.

Karkaroff is notably displeased by this turn of events. "I had been hoping that we would not also have to involve a new colony school in our ancient and noble event," Karkaroff says.

"They haven't been colonies in quite some time," I point out.

"I, for one, will be delighted to play host to Miss Lawson as well," Dumbledore says. "Let it not be said that we are giving Hogwarts an unfair advantage."

"If the Salem Witches' Institute were to be participating, surely they would have sent someone more qualified, regardless," Madame Maxine says.

"Whatever they might have done is irrelevant," I say. "This is how things stand now, and this is the situation that we must deal with."

"Dumbledore, do you allow all of your students to mouth off to you in such a disrespectful way?" Karkaroff says.

"Whatever," I say. "I'm going to lunch."

---

"You look like you haven't slept in days," Moody comments when I come into 'detention' after the full moon.

"Slytherin parties," I say absently. They'll cover for me without question.

This week, I have no trouble putting the Imperius Curse upon the rat. After having to do it on Ron, this seems like nothing. And I'm also entirely too tired to be second guessing myself at the moment. You'd think that would weaken the spell, but it doesn't exactly do anything to my will and stubbornness.

Headmistress Susan Lawson arrives in a much more sedate manner than the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang delegations -- by broomstick. She's a middle-aged witch, perhaps a bit younger than McGonagall. The short-cropped red hair underneath her pointed hat bears some streaks of silver in it.

"So, you're Harry Potter," Lawson says. "I've brought your uniform here for you, if you want it."

"Sure," I say. "Got to look the part, right?"

"I must say, I never expected I'd get the chance to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, even as a judge," Lawson says. "When I was in school, I dreamed of being the Triwizard champion, but it was already discontinued by that point. I went to Hogwarts myself, you know. I was a Ravenclaw. Which house are you in?"

"Gryffindor," I reply. "Although I hang out with the Slytherins more."

"Ah," Lawson says. "I might have wound up in Slytherin myself, if it hadn't been for the whole 'filthy Mudblood' thing. They didn't take too kindly to me. But I showed them. Muggleborn or no, best witch in my year."

I chuckle softly in amusement. "Funny," I say. "I've managed to convince Slytherin house that a friend of mine is actually Ravenclaw's secret heir."

Lawson snickers softly. "Clever, very clever."

"So if you went to Hogwarts, how did you ever wind up being the Headmistress of an American school?" I ask.

"Well, I was the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts one year," Lawson says. "Wound up with a bit of an incident by the end of the year and had to leave the country for a while. By the time things died down, I'd already settled into a teaching position at the Salem Witches' Institute. It's good to be back, at least for a bit, though."

That evening, Padfoot comes up to me after dinner and barks at me, then tugs at my robes with his teeth.

"Alright, boy, I'm coming," I say. I'd been hoping to get to bed early and catch up a bit on lost sleep, but if Padfoot is acting like this, it's probably something important.

Padfoot looks at me plaintively for a moment, and then covers his eyes with a paw.

"Ah, I see," I say. I pull out the invisibility cloak and put it over myself. "Better?"

Padfoot barks, and then trots off. He leads me out of the castle and across the grounds, toward the Forbidden Forest. At least if anyone sees him loping around by himself, they'll just think the dog is out for a walk, to relieve himself, or something.

Then, when we're out in the forest, he seems to be cautioning me to approach slowly. There ahead, I see movement. Something big. Merlin, dragons! Full-grown adults, and four of them! What a magnificent sight. I find myself grinning like a fool and admiring the sight of them.

Padfoot lets out a low growl, getting my attention and drawing me out of my reverie. Ah, there's Karkaroff, checking out the dragons, it looks like. I also spot Hagrid with Madame Maxine. I have to wonder if they're going to tell their champions about it. Is anyone going to tell Cedric? I kind of feel sorry for him. I don't think anyone's liable to want to bother cheating on his behalf.

When we get back to the Slytherin dorm, Sirius tells me, "Dragons, Harry!"

"Awesome, isn't it?" I say.

"This isn't a joke!" Sirius says. "They're doubtless here for the tournament. Dragons are dangerous!"

"I hope we don't have to kill them," I say. "I'd hate to hurt a dragon..."

"You... never mind," Sirius says, snorting softly. "I doubt it. They probably just want you to get past them. They looked like they were nesting mothers... they'll be vicious."

"Oh," I say. "That's awfully reckless... what if the eggs get smashed? Poor little dragonlings."

"Look, Harry," Sirius says. "You'd better be careful. Don't even think about using something as simple as a Stunner on them. It can take up to a dozen Stunning Spells to put down a dragon. Their weak point is their eyes. Try something like the Conjunctivitis Curse instead. You know that one, right?"

"Yeah," I say.

"I know it won't really stop you," Sirius says. "But I'd rather not see you get killed here. Alright?"

"I'll try not to," I say. "I can't make any promises, though."

The next morning, I catch Cedric coming into the Great Hall for breakfast. "Cedric!" I say. "Can we speak for a moment? In private? It's about the tournament."

"Sure, Harry," Cedric says. He waves his friends along and says, "Go on ahead, I'll be with you in a moment." Once they leave, he asks me, "What is it?" I'm a little surprised. He's a nice guy. He's not being nasty to me.

"The first task is dragons," I say quietly.

"Dragons?" Cedric says, eyes widening. "Are you sure?"

"I just found out myself last night," I say. "I saw them myself. And it would greatly surprise me if Viktor and Fleur didn't mysteriously find out beforehand as well."

"Why are you telling me this?" Cedric asks.

"I have no desire to see anyone die in this competition," I say. "And if I can't win on level ground, then I don't deserve to win."

"Well, alright then," Cedric says. "You're... more honorable than people give you credit for, then. Thanks for the warning."

---

I'm excited and nervous as the day of the first task arrives. Ron even cheerfully told me the day before the task that Trelawny said I'd be eaten by a dragon, burn to death, and be impaled on spikes. I'd already figured that out. Maybe I should pay more attention to Trelawny's predictions, so I know what to look out for.

I just hope the curse Sirius suggested does the trick. I'd rather not hurt a dragon, but I do need to get past today one way or another. Students jeer at me as I head to breakfast about how I'm probably going to use the Dark Arts to get through the task. They're probably right, and I don't care.

And then, after breakfast, it's straight off to the task. Ludo Bagman gives a quick explanation of how we'll be picking models from a bag that indicate which thing we're about to face, and that we need to collect a golden egg. Then, as we pull forth the little models of the dragons, I note that neither Fleur nor Viktor looks surprised at what they draw forth. So, they were told ahead of time after all. I receive a rather vicious looking Hungarian Horntail, and I'll be going last.

I wish I could actually watch what the other competitors are doing, rather than sitting in a tent sweating and waiting my turn. I do a last minute rundown over my spells, just in case the curse Sirius suggested doesn't do the trick.

And then, I'm outside, going face to face with the glorious black lizard, thrashing her spiked tail about this way and that, clearly looking none too happy to be here.

"Conjunctivitis!" I cast. The dragon's eyes close, and I try to approach.

The tail moves, whipping at me rapidly. I can't get out of the way fast enough. Long, nasty spikes pierce my body. Pain... it's over in an instant.

---

I wake with a groan. Well, that didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I mentally tally 'Horntail: 1, Stormseeker: 0', and get ready for the task again.

"Protego!" I cast. "Conjunctivitis!"

The dragon's eyes swell shut again, and this time, when the tail comes swinging at me, I flatten myself against the ground rapidly to avoid it. But then a burst of impossibly hot fire melts through my shield and sears me to a crisp.

---

Horntail: 2, Stormseeker: 0. I'm off to a great start at this tournament.

Alright, I need to avoid the tail and the fire. "Protego!" I cast, for whatever good it will do. It might give me another second to get out of the way of the fire, at least. What other spells might I use? "Flipendo! Leviosa! Mobilidraconis!"

These don't do anything other than annoy the dragon. I tumble out of the way of a jet of flames.

"Accio golden egg!" I cast. Nothing. It's not doing to work with the dragon still sitting on the nest. I need to get her to move somehow. I rush forward to try to see if I can get at the nest.

An enormous, taloned foot rips me open. Pain... bleeding... I think my insides are falling out... blackness mercifully takes me.

---

Horntail: 3, Stormseeker: 0. Am I really that much of an idiot? Why did I think any of that would work?

Okay, avoid the tail, fire, claws... Abyss, just avoid the dragon altogether if I can, all of it is deadly! It would help if I got anything other than the Hungarian Horntail. But I'm the last one to pull from the bag, and I have no way to influence what the others might get.

What I need is some sort of distraction... "Expecto Patronum!" I cast, thinking firmly of the rainbow after the storm. A silvery duck springs forth from my wand and flies up into the air. It can't actually do anything to the dragon, but maybe it will get her attention.

The dragon watches the duck flying about her head in puzzlement, and then starts snapping at the Patronus. Yes, come on, chase after it. Move a little more. Just a little more!

Pain tears through my body. Damn it. I was paying attention to the dragon's front and forgot about her back end. I've been impaled on her tail spikes again. I die once more.

---

Horntail: 4, Stormseeker: 0, I think bitterly. This isn't working. And the repeated deaths are starting to wear at me. I can still keep going, though. I'm not about to give up now.

"Locus Timoris!" I cast at the nest. There! It worked! She's suddenly afraid of her own eggs! "Accio--"

The dragon's head swings down and practically rips me in half with her fangs. She's not stupid. I die again.

---

Horntail: 5, Stormseeker, 0. I feel like I was so close that time. But I probably don't have many more tries left. I pull out one of the Wideye Potions that Snape gave me for the full moon, and drink it down. I need to stay awake and alert, or I'm not going to get anywhere.

"Conjunctivitis!" I cast, blinding the dragon. I stay on the move, and cast, "Locus Timoris!" She lifts herself off of the nest.

The dragon mother spits blazing fire at the spot where I was standing just a moment before. She can't see me, but she can certainly hear me.

Dodging out of the way of the fire, I cast "Accio golden egg!" The egg flies into the air and zips toward me.

Just as I'm about to catch the fake egg from the air, the dragon's spiked tail slams into me again.

---

Horntail: 6, Stormseeker: 0. I keep forgetting about that damned tail. So close! And yet now, I hardly think that I can move quickly enough to dodge out of the way of the dragon's fire. Damn it. I down a Wideye Potion again and make ready for the task.

"Nevischio!" I cast furiously, thinking of the icy mountain storms of my homeland. Sleet rains down upon the dragon, pelting her scales with dagger-like icicles that would rip right through the skin of many lesser beings.

All the spell does is anger the dragon. She roars and expels a gush of flame from her mouth straight at me. My limbs are tired and sluggish, and I can't dodge out of the way fast enough. At least I feel the flesh painfully melting off my bones for only a moment before it's over.

---

Horntail: 7, Stormseeker: 0, I tally up wearily. I should be useless by now, if the last time I died so frequently was any indication. But my magic is stronger now and more well-developed, I suppose. I don't know if that's much of a relief, though. At least if I passed out and missed the task, I'd survive today. But so long as I have a choice about it, I'm not backing out.

I'm running short on ideas, and getting into last resorts now. If I had thought of the Revulsion Curse idea while I was still fresh, I might have been able to pull that off. Too late now. I need simpler, more powerful magic.

"Imperio!" I cast. I didn't want to have to try this, but nothing else is working.

I feel the dragon's mind. A mighty, powerful being. But my will is strong, and I'm not about to give up. I am the Heir of the Children of the Dragon's Blood, I tell her. I am the descendant of royalty. Bow down to me, dragon.

I'm dimly aware that the crowd is probably shocked by this sight, but between exhaustion and a dark magic high, I really don't care. The dragon is lowering her head to me obediently. It worked. It actually worked. I succeeded at mentally dominating a dragon!

Do not attack me. I mean no harm to you or your young, I assure her. But there is a false egg that has been deviously hidden within your nest. Give it to me.

Slowly, the dragon moves aside from her nest, peering down at the eggs. Carefully, she nudges the golden one with her snout, and rolls it out of the nest and over toward me. Once the artificial egg is rolling across the ground toward me, she wastes no time in planting herself firmly back on top of her nest.

I reach down to pick up the golden egg clumsily. Tired as I am, I wind up dropping it a few times before tucking it away in my arms.

I walk away from the dragon, my mind full of haze. I just want to settle in somewhere and take a nice, long rest. Preferably somewhere quiet and private, where I can take a Dream Sweet. I realize dimly that I forgot to take a Wideye Potion this time. It's a wonder I can even move at all.

I can vaguely hear an argument taking place somewhere on the edge of my awareness. "He used an Unforgivable Curse! We need to arrest him!"

"He used it on a dragon, not a person. There's nothing against the law about using Unforgivables on non-humans."

"We should certainly penalize him for publicly using such dark magic!"

"It was an impressive feat of magic, nonetheless." I think that voice is Susan Lawson. "Not many people could have pulled that off."

"Excuse me," I say quietly. "Excuse me. I completed the task. May I pass out now?"

"Harry?" say several voices in concern, right before I slip into unconsciousness.

---

Dragonfire scorches me again and again. I'm impaled on spikes over and over. Claws rip at me, teeth tear at me, and in the background of it all, I can hear my cousins screaming as they die. I can't escape. I can't get away. Everything is hopeless. And in the end, the Dementors are coming for me...

I wake, screaming.

"Calm down, Harry," Madam Pomfrey says. It looks like I'm in the hospital wing. "It's alright. You're suffering from severe magical exhaustion. Casting... that spell... obviously took a lot out of you. Here, I'll give you a Dreamless Sleep potion and let you rest some more."

It was a nightmare. It was just a nightmare. Beyond that, I have no idea what's going on. I take the potion she gives me without question and go back to sleep.

---

When I wake again, I see Susan Lawson sitting at my bedside, quietly reading a book. She glances up when I stir, and says, "Ah, you're awake. Feeling better, Harry?"

"Yeah," I say numbly. "What happened?"

"You passed out after the first task," Lawson says. "Magical exhaustion. Madam Pomfrey was gracious enough to let me stay at your side after the judging. Merlin knows someone had to. The rest of them were all trying to debate on arresting you, the fools."

"I'm not aware that I did anything wrong," I say.

"They were being needlessly judgmental," Lawson says. "At least, aside from Dumbledore, who said as little as possible about it, and Karkaroff, who gave you almost full marks, purely out of spite I'm sure. I gave you full marks, of course. Whatever they might say, that was quite an impressive bit of spell work."

"I was just trying to survive," I say. "That had the best chance of working..."

"Of course," Lawson says. "You feel up to talking to anyone else right now? Dumbledore wanted to be notified when you woke up. He wanted to speak with you in private, I understand."

"I don't know that I feel up to talking to Dumbledore right now, but I suppose I'd better," I say, sighing. "Might as well get it over with."

Lawson leaves, and after a few minutes, Dumbledore comes in. He waves his wand, and says, "Lexen, that was an extremely rash thing you did out there."

"Dumbledore," I say. "Please don't judge me for that. I just died seven times."

Dumbledore's eyes widen a bit, and he says, "Regardless, all you have done is substantiate the rumors of you being a dark wizard. Some wanted you removed from the tournament. Some wanted you expelled from Hogwarts. Some even wanted you sent to Azkaban."

I snort softly. "If there were more people who could cast the Imperius Curse on dragons, they'd be hired as dragon handlers in an instant. None of this nonsense about hitting the poor things with a dozen Stunners!"

"That may well be so," Dumbledore concedes. "Still, you gave us quite the time. Thankfully, it seems that no one seriously wanted you removed from the tournament, as if you could be in the first place if you were actually Harry Potter, except for the students of Hogwarts and Beauxbatons. And they are not the ones making these decisions."

"Meh," I say. "They already hated me to begin with. I did what I had to do to survive. That was a last resort, believe me. I'd already tried everything else I could think of."

"Lexen, where did you even learn to cast the Imperius Curse in the first place?" Dumbledore asks.

"I'll tell you how it really came about, because I owe you that much," I say. Or at least, because I can't think of a lie that he'd actually believe. "I convinced Professor Moody to teach me how to cast the Unforgivable Curses. I kind of forced his hand... told him if he didn't agree to teach me, I would go and practice them on my own, unsupervised."

Dumbledore frowns deeply. "I'm very disappointed in you for pushing Alastor into a corner like that. Why did you even want to learn the Unforgivable Curses in the first place?"

"They're powerful magic," I say. "And I want to learn everything I can possibly get my hands on. You know where I'm from, Dumbledore. You know what I'm going to have to go up against at some point. This world's laws don't apply in Torn Elkandu. And if the Unforgivable Curses can help me fight against the dark wizards who threaten my family, then I will use them."

"I can understand that, I suppose," Dumbledore says reluctantly.

"You know I'm not the sort of person who would go around murdering and torturing people for fun," I say. "Trust me, alright? I would never use this sort of magic without good reason."

"Very well," Dumbledore says with a heavy sigh. "But you realize what you've done in this world, don't you? You know how people are going to look at you from here on out?"

"I know," I say. "I'll deal with it. Life goes on."

"You can't dismiss the consequences that easily," Dumbledore says.

"I'm not dismissing anything," I say. "But dwelling on it won't change anything, will it? I regret enough of my mistakes as it is without regreting the things that were not mistakes. It wasn't my first choice on how to complete the task, but it was the one that worked."

"I can't let this slide, you know," Dumbledore says. "Not something like this. I'm going to have to punish you in some way."

"So be it, then," I say with a shrug. "Are you going to give me detentions for casting an Unforgivable Curse?"

"No, Lexen," Dumbledore says. "I'm going to have to expel you."

"What?" I cry.

"I'm sorry, Lexen," Dumbledore says.

I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, stunned speechless, as Dumbledore leaves. Expelled? From Hogwarts? This is a disaster! What am I going to do now? There's still so many things I need to learn!

Susan Lawson comes in again. "I just heard the news, Harry," she says. "Expelled? That old fool... Well, he can't expel you, you know. You're not a student of Hogwarts this year at all. You're a student of the Salem Witches' Institute. And I'm not going to expel you."

I breathe a sigh of relief. "You have no idea how glad I am to hear that," I say. "But what about next year?"

"If he hasn't gotten this fool notion out of his head by that point, you're more than welcome to come join us back on the other side of the pond," Lawson says. "You can even bring your friends, if they want to come."

"It might be for the best," I say. "I seem not to be very popular around here lately."

"And because of the tournament, which you conveniently can't get out of, you'll still have to stay at Hogwarts for the remainder of the year regardless," Lawson says.

"I'd better get used to wearing my new uniform," I say.