The Dragonmaster

Chapter Three

Harry felt himself being engulfed in welcome darkness. He didn't feel anything. No pain, no joy, just nothing. But suddenly he felt a tug in his navel, like he was being transported by a portkey and his surroundings started to lighten, slowly become blinding white. After the few minutes it took his eyes to adjust to the light, he started to look around him. It seemed like he was on a cloud. If this was heaven, he was quite happy to be there.

He suddenly heard a flapping behind him and turned sharply to look at what was making that sound. His jaw nearly hit the 'ground' --if there ws any.

A dragon was flying towards him, a Sowaroc to be precise. But he was silver instead of the normal colors. The beast landed near Harry and stared right at him, making him really uncomfortable.

~ It was stupid!, ~ the dragon stated, looking strictly at the teen.

Harry only gaped at him, too surprised to even register what he had just said.

~ This was probably one of the most foolish things to do!, ~ continued the dragon. He was clearly angry with Harry.

Harry snapped back to reality. He was in Heaven and he wasn't there to be shouted at. He'd gotten enough of that at the Headquarters.

"What?" he replied, curtly.

~ What were you thinking? Slicing your wrist! Did you want to kill yourself? ~

Harry raised his left eyebrow. Was he joking or just being stupid?

"That was the point!" he snapped back, clearly angry at the dragon.

~ I know that! ~

"Then, why are you asking?"

~ To get a point! ~

"Which is?"

~ My! Aren't we curious?! ~

"No, just wondering why I am being bothered by a dragon with an anger management problem, while I'm supposed to be dead and resting in peace forever...."

~ Why do I always get the difficult ones? ~ The huge beast sighed, rolling his eyes in a very human-like way.

Harry remained silent. The dragon was getting on his nerves.

The Sowaroc gave an exasperated sigh again.

~ Well, lets get a few things straight: first, you're not dead... ~

"WHAT!"

~ I'd like you not to interrupt me... As I was saying you're not dead and... ~

"Sorry, I must have misunderstood what you have just said. I think I heard 'you're not dead'?"

~ You. Are. Not. Dead, ~ the dragon repeated forcefully.

There was a silence, then...

"*(censored)**"

~ Language, language ~

"Oh shut up! You've basically told me I'm going back to Hell and you'd like me to be fine and happy about it? Are you out of your mind?! You don't know what my life is like there!"

~ I know exactly how it's like for you! I'm not your guardian for nothing! ~

"Really, and how would you... you're my what?!"

~ Me doth think you have a few hearing problems. I'm your guardian. ~

Harry stared at the Sowaroc. After a few minutes, he seemed to break from his shock state.

"Alright, where's the camera?"

The dragon gave him a confused look.

~ The what? ~

"The camera, you know this thing muggles use to record films."

~ I know what a camera is! ~

"You sure know a lot of things." Replied Harry, but he shut up, seeing the look on the Sowaroc's face.

~ To come back to our subject, I'm your guardian and... ~

"Er... sorry to interrupt you again, but I believe there is a small mistake there. You can't be my guardian."

~ And why not? ~

" Well, I can't have a guardian. To have one, you need to reach the spirit plane and find one; and I'm unable to reach the plane, so I can't have a guardian."

~ You being to be able to reach the plane would have been quite surprising, seeing what your so called masters taught you, ~ the dragon snorted.

"Care to elaborate?" Harry asked, with a raised eyebrow.

~ Well, you're a human. ~

"Brilliant, you noticed!"

~ Don't take that tone with me!, ~ snapped the dragon. ~ Anyway, as I was saying, since you're a human, you can't use the same method as the elves to reach the plane, it's technically impossible! Elvish and human minds aren't identical! ~

"Great, and so?"

~ You're really thick, you know. It means that with the proper training, you can develop your own abilities. ~

"Wonderful." Replied Harry sarcastically. "And how was I supposed to learn that?"

~ Well, I was planning to appear to you, but since you tried to kill yourself, my plans have been changed a bit. It was quite a stupid thing to do, completely useless and inappropriate. ~

"I found it quite appropriate, thank you."

~ Well, we haven't much time left before you wake up, so I'm going to show you how to reach the plane. After this I'll be able to talk with you. ~

"Something I'm not sure I should be happy about," Harry muttered quietly.

~ This way, I'll be able to help with your training, ~ continued the dragon, apparently not having heard Harry's comment.

At the word "training", Harry's ears perked up.

"Training?"

~ No, painting!, ~ snorted the Sowaroc. ~ Of course training! ~

"But I don't think I'm the best person to be trained."

~ Nonsense. Now listen carefully. To reach the plane you need to... ~

The dragon started to explain in every detail the method to reach the plane.

He explained to Harry that the elves had a very strong link with nature. They had to link with it, and after relaxing and calming their minds, they used its power and through it, accessed the plane. Then they had to pierce its mists, stabilizing the plane. They would find their guardian only once this was done.

As Harry was a human, he said, he didn't have these links, so instead of trying to drawn his mind out into the nature's power which he couldn't access (for now at least), he had to dive into the depths of his mind, to focus inside him on his inner power, locate it's origin, and use it to reach the plane. Once there, he had to adjust his mind to the plane. To put it simply, he had to clear his mind--not calm himself, which was quite different.

He started to try to do this, under the careful watch of the dragon. To make him practice, the Sowaroc took him into another plane and made him return to the spirit plane. After a few failed attempts, he quickly got the hang of it and could now do it with ease in a few seconds.

Suddenly he shivered.

~ Apparently, you're finally waking up ~

"But I don't want to!"

~ Sorry, but I don't think it's something we can control. ~

"But..."

~ No but. Anyway I expect you tomorrow at 4 a.m sharp. Be outside for this. ~

"4 A.M! Are you crazy?!"

~ I'm perfectly sane thank you. But we can't have you untrained. You must learn to have control over your abilities. ~

"Yeah, whatever."

The plane started to fade before Harry's eyes.

~ Remember, tomorrow at 4 A.M!" yelled the dragon.

"Hey! You didn't tell me your name!"

~ Arxeren!, ~ shouted the Sowaroc, before disappearing.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry opened his eyes slowly, groaning. The light was blinding him. He closed his eyes, shielding them from the light. He smelled salt, but also the sea. He could hear the rush of the sea against the cliff. The dragon was right, he was alive. Sighing, he opened his eyes again and after adjusting them to his surroundings, he looked around him, trying to see where he was.

I'm in a cave. These were his first thoughts. He was in a cave, probably dug in the cliff. There was a large opening through which the light was coming.

~ You're awake, young one, ~ said someone behind him. The voice was deep but at the same time soft.

He turned on his heel and came face to face with a Sowaroc! But this time it was a real one and a very impressive one. His head nearly touched the ceiling, which meant he was nearly eight meters high. His gold color was nearly throbbing with power. His silver blades and diamond claws were shining in the light. This creature was breathtaking, the embodiment of beauty and perfection, but also deadly.

"Why am I alive?" asked Harry out of the blue. He didn't care if he was rude to the dragon he wanted to know why he was back.

~ I healed you when I found you last night. But I must say I thought you were going to die. You had lost a lot of blood. ~

Harry sighed.

"Why couldn't you just let me die?"

~ A great destiny is waiting for you. ~

"Probably as the worst student ever seen in the Headquarters! Or the first one being expelled, something I'm sure everyone would be happy about."

~ Stop wallowing in self-pity. Explore your abilities, train them, work harder, ~ the dragon cut in.

"You're the second one to tell me this, but how could I be able to do it? Everyone I know would most likely go eat a flobberworm than help me with my training."

~ You have a brain, use it. Moreover you won't be alone. ~

"Ah yes, the insane spirit guardian! I forgot about him. But how will a spirit train me?"

~ You'll see, little one. ~

"But..."

~ You can do it, I know it. ~

"You're quite optimistic! I'm not strong enough! This!" there he showed up his wrist where a thin red line could be seen, "should prove you your wrong!"

~ Be more confident, young one. ~

"It's not that easy! I'm alone....," said Harry quietly.

~ You're not alone, people are watching you, you just need to learn to see them. ~

"I won't manage it."

The Sowaroc looked closely at him.

~ Give me your hand. ~

Harry obeyed.

The dragon lowered his head at his hand's level. The young boy could feel his breath. Contrary to what he had believed, it didn't smell like sulfur or fire. He couldn't name it but it was calming and relaxing. His hand glowed and when the light faded, and he saw a necklace in it. He took a good look at it: it was an oblong pendant with something engraved on it: a flying dragon in all its majesty. He looked up at the dragon, taking a deep breath.

"I can't accept it, it-it's too much."

The eyes of the dragon locked with his, their rainbow colors hypnotizing Harry.

~ Take it. It's made out of one of my scales. This way you will never really be alone. ~

Almost not daring to, Harry slowly put it around his neck. As it lay on his chest when he hid it under his shirt, Harry could feel a warm feeling passing through him at the contact. He looked up at the mighty beast with a tear in his eyes.

"Thank you, you don't know what it means to me."

Harry was so taken by his joy that he missed the small glow that surrounded the pendant for a few seconds. But the Sowaroc didn't. He gave the boy before him a sharp look.

~ You must leave now, young one. ~

Harry headed out of the cave. On his right, he saw stairs leading to the top of the cliff. Before exiting the cave he stopped and turned back.

"Wait, what's your name?"

~ You'll know when we'll meet again, young one. Now go, before your absence is noticed by your teachers, ~ He somehow spat the word.

"Please don't tell them anything, it would only make things worse," pleaded Harry, feeling the dragon might report what he had done to someone, maybe Demenor. The elf had forgotten all about him, proving his true interest for the boy. Harry didn't want to have him reminded of it.

The dragon eyed him for a long moment before nodding reluctantly.

~ Agreed, young one. Now go. ~

"Good bye, and thank you." replied Harry in a whisper before leaving.

Once he was alone, the dragon muttered quietly:

~ We'll meet again, young Harry Potter. ~

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry ran to the Headquarters, hoping against hope that nobody would notice that he hadn't been in his dorm for the entire night.

He wasn't so lucky. As he was running down a corridor, he bumped into someone.

"Hey! Watch where you're going. ... You!" yelled the person he had just nearly knocked out.

To his luck, it was Effilin.

"What are you doing here? Running in the corridors! I'll teach you!" he ranted.

Harry didn't even bother to listen to him. He knew the best way to deal with the sword master was to remain silent and wait for him to finish his lecture.

"... And if you're so energetic that you can run this early in the morning, then you're going to have to clean the whole fighting room today. I want it to be spotless. And I don't care that it's Christmas!" he shouted.

By now a score of riders and a few students had gathered around them. All were smirking at Harry, apparently happy to see him in trouble.

Harry nodded carelessly and walked away.

"Hey! I'm not finished! Human!" yelled a red Effilin.

But Harry didn't take notice of it. Too many thoughts were swirling in his mind and he would deal with the consequences later. In a few minutes he was in his dorm. Nobody was there, all were in the common room enjoying Christmas morning.

Harry clutched his necklace tightly and for the first time in months he smiled a true smile.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Meanwhile panic was spreading in the wizarding world.

Harry's disappearance wasn't noticed before the middle of August when the Weasleys, worried by Harry's lack of answers to their mail, had come to get him out of the house of his relatives.

The Dursleys, quite happy to see him gone, didn't try to find where he had left to or who had took him away. They only realized they were rid of him, something they were glad for. Worry was the last of the things in their mind. Only Petunia was a bit angry at his disappearance because he had left before finishing his work, leaving the paintbrushes on the floor and dropping paint on the grass.

When the Weasleys arrived, this time by car, the Dursleys panicked.

Ron rang at the door, quite worried. Harry hadn't replied to his letters for a few weeks.

The door opened slowly, revealing a smiling Petunia. Her smile disappeared as soon as she saw who was standing on her doorstep, replaced by a look of pure panic.

Before she could close the door, Ron had blocked the door.

"Sorry to come like this, Mrs. Dursley," said Hermione, who had come with him, "but we need to speak with Harry."

"W-Who?" stuttered Petunia Dursley.

"Harry Potter."

"There is nobody by this name living here, now leave before I call the police."

"Don't play with us." replied Mr. Weasley, who had approached his son and friend. "You know Harry. Now let us enter and take him with us."

Petunia was about to answer, when Vernon's voice was heard behind her.

"Who is it, Petunia?" he asked.

"People. They're here for Him." She said shakily.

Vernon immediately joined his wife. He eyed Mr. Weasley disdainfully.

"The boy doesn't live here anymore," he said, smirking.

Mr. Weasley, Ron and Hermione paled.

"What do you mean?" asked the grown wizard hurriedly.

"He disappeared weeks ago. Pfuit! Gone! Good riddance it was." Replied the beefy man.

This wasn't what Hermione and her companions had expected.

Their faces were now deadly pale.

"He disappeared?" repeated Ron.

"Are you stupid? The boy left. I don't know how or where or with who, but he's gone! Now leave my house!" he yelled.

With that he slammed the door. Hermione, Ron, and his father went whiter, panic visible on their faces.

"We must go to Hogwarts," stated Mr. Weasley.

The two youths were too shocked to say anything, so they nodded dumbly and left.

Once Dumbledore learned what had happened, it only took a few days before the wizarding world knew about it. It was in the newspapers, headlines like 'The Boy-Who-Lived Disappeared!' or 'Potter Kidnapped!' could be seen. The craziest hypotheses were made. A world scale search was made, but no clues were found. Panic followed. People started to believe in the return of the Dark Lord. Fudge tried to cover it, saying that the Potter boy must have had this thing planned, that You-Know-Who wasn't back. But only a few believed him; most followed Dumbledore's lead.

After a few weeks, as the students boarded the Hogwarts Express, everyone waited for Harry to show up, hoping against hope that he would come. But he never came. During the ride, Hermione had to restrain Ron from punching Malfoy as the young blond came to their compartment, making snide comments about Harry's disappearance. It was with a depressed mind that Hermione and the others entered the Great Hall. All the Gryffindors were looking sad, silent, and lost, even the twins. The sorting took place in a heavy atmosphere as all the houses, except Slytherin were worried for their comrade.

At the end, Dumbledore stood up, starting his speech.

"... And I ask you to keep in mind the name of one of your fellow student absent today. Let us hope he is well."

And everyone could nearly hear "and that he is not in Voldemort's clutches" in his mind.

All in all it wasn't a good start of the year for Hogwarts' students... well, most of them.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*