The Beast Within - Chapter 24

He could not, in fact, eat more than Hagrid. The dragons each had their own favorite thing about the new lodgings. Agda enjoyed having a door. She was the most amiable to the Dragon Scholars but liked the option to shut them out. Xia picked out the best bed with her symptoms making her tired all the time. Sian was enamored by the bathroom. Not just because she no longer had to run outside to find a safe place to experience her morning sickness. She took baths that would last for at least an hour. Whoever invented the charm for endless hot water deserved sainthood at the very least.

Harry had two days before the term started. He was eager to see his friends again, but the thought of being surrounded made him pause. To be perfectly honest, he wondered if he should even stay enrolled at Hogwarts. He was a literal dragon now, what was the point of going to school? Not only that, but he had two vaults full of gold that he could comfortably live off for a hundred years at least.

That was another thing. How long would he live? In terms of a dragon, a Mature Dragon gained that title after five hundred years. The first hundred years or so were considered a growing time with adulthood being two hundred. A healthy wizard could naturally live to a hundred easily. Charms, potions, and rituals could stretch their lives out to three hundred before delving into the 'darker' side of things. Of course, that was doing the math with a peaceful, healthy life which would be quite the change for him.

Having a long life was not something Harry had ever considered before. Something in him didn't expect to live to see twenty let alone two hundred. It wasn't just Voldemort. There was always something aiming for him or something only he could put down. Whether that be from ability or will didn't matter. Well, maybe it was mostly Voldemort.

"Are you sure you have to go?" Sian asked as Harry set out his uniform.

They discovered a few things that she could eat that didn't trigger her morning sickness. Steamed Pepper Stuffed Lobster Tails with BBQ sauce to dip was her current staple. She had to eat in another room to prevent everyone else from getting ill. He had heard of strange pregnancy craving but had thought it was a bad joke.

"I'll be back after the opening feast," Harry leaned his head over.

She brushed hers against it in a casual show of affection. Dragons were more like cats than they would ever admit. The trio hadn't given any sign that they were going to change back to their original forms. Speculation was that the developing babies locked them from transforming. The scholars also posited that the pregnancy would last roughly twenty-five days in total. That meant they had about twenty left. Harry wasn't sure who was more excited, the trio and him or the scholars.

Sian perked up at the mention of feast. Her appetite was unending now that she found something she could eat. Harry still had no idea how she had come up with her current combination.

Harry looked at the clock again. It was a standard one rather than the enchanted type that the Weasley's had. He didn't think a clock like that would need more than three options for him. Home, Mortal Danger, and Other He never realized how long it took for the Hogwarts Express to arrive. For the first time in four years, he could sleep in. He didn't even have to pack. Instead, he spent the day lounging by the lake with Agda. She found the waves soothing and the Mer-people had adjusted to them. Clearing out the clusters of Grindylows had earned them points once they calmed down.

There were parts of the grounds that they weren't allowed due to the preparations for the upcoming Tournament. It was one of the worst kept secrets at Hogwarts. The Ministry had been in a tizzy for some reason, bringing in crews of witches and wizards to get things in order. Harry was looking forward to seeing how it all turned out.

"You will introduce us to your friends?" Agda asked as she lounged on the couch.

It was wide enough for her to lie on her back with her wings relaxed without an issue. Harry suspected it was enchanted considering it didn't even squeak when Hagrid sat on it. Speaking of the half-giant. Three loud, booming knocks on the front door announced his arrival.

"Come in!" Agda yelled.

Hagrid would blush something fierce the first few times he had visited. The dragons had no desire to wear clothes and didn't care if people were uncomfortable. Hagrid had kept his eyes on the ceiling for most of the visit until he kept running into things.

"Harry, I'm heading up to the castle," Hagrid said as he poked his head in. "Want to walk with me?"

"Of course," Harry replied.

Harry quickly gave Sian and Agda a kiss, then he quietly slipped into the bedroom to give Xia a gentle kiss on the forehead. She muttered something, but didn't get up. He smiled at her antics before he left.

"Are you nervous?" Hagrid asked when they stepped outside.

"A little," Harry shrugged. "Are you?"

"Always," Hagrid laughed. "Never thought I'd be a professor. This'll be my second year. I still got no idea what I'm doing."

"Is the Ministry still trying to convince you to make something for the tournament?" Harry asked.

"They tried, but I turned them down," Hagrid shook his head. "Don't want to risk it with the babies coming. Little ones running around unknown critters ain't safe."

"I'm sure they'll love visiting Uncle Hagrid," Harry smiled.

Hagrid gasped. He started to sniffle and pulled Harry into a tight hug. Harry laughed. These days the crushing grip was hardly a bother. He gave Hagrid a squeeze back and earned a little 'oof' in reply.

"Got quite the grip there, Harry," Hagrid cleared his throat and wiped the tears from his eyes.

Harry shrugged. They walked in silence for a little bit. It wasn't a long trip to the Great Hall, but they took their time. Harry had no desire to arrive too much earlier than his friends. Hagrid was a ball of nerves to face the students once more.

"Have you ever met a vampire?" Harry asked stopping in front of the set of doors that Hagrid didn't have to duck to get through.

"Once," Hagrid shook his head. "Nice enough fella. Still made my skin crawl."

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "I spent a week with one. They just don't feel right."

The duo stood staring at the door. Neither moved to open it. Harry sighed, then pulled the door open. A wall of light and muted sound rolled over them. He could already smell the food waiting to be served. There was an underlying scent of House Elves that lingered around the castle.

Harry entered the Great Hall as the other students were beginning to file in. Hermione saw him first. His heart caught in his throat as he saw that Hedwig was perched on her shoulder. The owl stayed perfectly in place as Hermione rushed over to him. It broke his heart to feel the cloud of fear that surrounded his first friend. Hermione stopped and rubbed her shoulder where claws started to squeeze.

"It's ok, girl," Harry spoke through the lump in his throat. "It's still me."

Hermione slowed in her approach. Hedwig hopped off her shoulder to land on the nearby Gryffindor table. Hermione took the chance and dashed to him. She wrapped him in one of her tight hugs that weren't nearly as tight now.

"Hey, Mione," Harry carefully hugged her back.

He needed to adjust his strength now that he was around normal people again. A vampire, three dragons, and a half-giant didn't need that much consideration.

"How are you?" Hermione asked.

"Good," Harry smiled at her. "I can't wait to introduce you to Agda and Sian. Xia isn't up for visitors."

"Those are the dragons, right?" Hermione asked. "I can't believe they can speak English. The books I read didn't mention they spoke at all. Aside from Asian Dragons, but those were Muggle legends and not the most reliable sources."

"Harry!" Ron yelled.

A moment later he was in the middle of a ginger swarm. Half a dozen conversations at once sparked up around him. As much as he wanted to pay attention, his focus was on Hedwig. She hadn't stopped staring at him ever since she hopped onto the table. Slowly, little by little she was scooting closer to him.

"Students," Headmistress McGonagall called. "Take your seats."

The Weasleys and Hermione took their spots while Harry sat a few places away from Hedwig. She paused once he was no longer surrounded. He tried not to look at her and idly twirled a lock of hair. It was a dirty trick. Hedwig hated it when he did that and would spend at least the next ten minutes grooming the tangle.

Harry suppressed a smile at the sound of her huff of annoyance. She hopped over to him and up onto his shoulder before beginning to put his hair into some sort of order. They both knew it was a losing battle and didn't care. Harry let her be, just enjoying her being nearby. He didn't want to spook her by moving too fast or trying to touch her yet.

"Harry," Hermione whispered. "You're crying."

"Huh?" Harry wiped his eyes to find she was correct. "That's odd."

Hedwig froze at his movement. He braced himself for her to flee. She didn't and his heart soared.

"I missed you, girl," Harry whispered.

Hedwig nipped his ear in reply. She took off once the First Years came in. Harry cleared the lump from his throat and waited for the sorting to finish.

Harry sat through the sorting and the announced the new Defense Professor, Moody, with a small smile on his face. She moved on to the news about Quidditch being canceled with a slight edge in her voice. He could see that she wanted to join in on the protesting as well. She was just as much of a Quidditch maniac as any of them. Still, seeing the quick shift in mood from hearing Quidditch was cancelled to the surge of excitement to the Tri-Wizard Tournament. There was another feeling running underneath it all, but he wasn't sure what it was. He thought maybe it was due to the fact that he knew about the Tournament.

It wasn't until Headmistress McGonagall paused to look at him that things became weird. She took a deep breath before she continued.

"As you may know, at the end of the last year a student was attacked by a werewolf," McGonagall spoke in controlled, steady tone. "Remus Lupin surrendered himself to Aurors in the morning and as been sentenced for the rest of his days in Azkaban." She paused for the students to adjust to the news. "There is a new addition to the school grounds. A private cabin for those who are victims of werewolf attacks. Harry Potter is the first resident. The cabin is protected by a password as well as surveillance wards to keep everyone safe."

The entire Great Hall went silent when she said his name. Last year, something like this would have crushed him. Now, it didn't bother him at all. In fact, he waved at the rest of them without a worry.

"The Welcome Feast, is served," McGonagall said.

There was a solid stretch of silence as Harry and his friends were the only ones filling their plates. The rest of the Great Hall came alive once the shock wore off. There was a difference between rumors that a student was attacked and knowing the truth. Harry Potter was usually involved somehow. Naturally, the story spread that he was the one attacked. That one guy had a friend who had a cousin that worked at St. Mungo's, and they swore the name in the records was Harry. Just like a few years ago when he was supposedly the reason that Professor Quirrell disappeared.

~

Harry stood to the side when the students were dismissed. It took a while for everyone to file out so he could take his friends to meet the dragons. Hedwig took off once the Hat began to sing.

"Are you ok?" Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, why?" Harry furrowed his brow at her.

"The announcement," Hermione said. "Everyone knows."

"I thought everyone already did," he shrugged.

"Dumbledore should have been fired years ago," Malfoy strutted over to him. "Letting mudbloods in is bad enough, now they're letting creatures attend."

Harry watched Malfoy approach. Hermione rolled her eyes at the blatant baiting. He had been worried about attacking Draco. Looking at Malfoy now made the fear seem so incredibly stupid. The wizard was nothing more than a puffed-up peacock.

"Malfoy," Harry smiled at the wizard. "How's your father? Did he get those burns healed?"

"What burns?" Malfoy asked, the confusion wrinkling his brow.

"Last time I saw his robes were on fire and he was running away," Harry said easily. "He was in such a hurry he dropped his mask too."

Draco sputtered and drew his wand. Harry didn't even bother to move. Though it did remind him again that he didn't have a wand of his own. He was too distracted to realize Draco had already sent a couple of spells his way. The two were rather nasty by their feel of them when they splashed against his skin. Compared to the training with Nym, Hestia, and Moody it didn't even tingle.

"Those didn't look nice," Harry sighed.

Draco stared blankly at him. His mind simply couldn't understand Harry didn't react to either spell. Draco went stiff and dropped to floor. A moment later Moody stomped over with his usual glare on his face. He levitated the frozen student off of the floor. Moody stomp-clanked away with Draco behind him. Harry watched as Crabbe and Goyle shuffled to follow their petrified boss.

"Potter," Moody called over his shoulder. "Come along."

Harry shrugged and joined the group. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny fell in step with him. The followed the clank-stomp of Moody through the castle to the Headmistress' office.

"Alastor," Headmistress McGonagall stood from behind her desk.

Harry could smell the hastily hidden bottle of whiskey she had tucked behind her desk. The tea she had made for herself already had a bit in it as well.

"Why are you levitating Mister Malfoy?" McGonagall asked.

"He attacked Potter," Moody replied. "Unprovoked on an unarmed person and the curses he used have been illegal since before he was born."

McGonagall narrowed her eyes at the frozen student.

"Students," McGonagall said. "I will request the Aurors question you all in the morning. Please head to your rooms while I contact the authorities."

Harry had to take a moment to consider what she her words. McGonagall was calling the Aurors after a student was attacked. Why did that feel like such a strange idea? Harry walked out of the office and shook his head. Dumbledore would have waved it off as childish behavior, asked Harry to forgive Draco, and a warned Harry about the dangers of provoking others.

"Did you still want to meet my dragons?" Harry asked once the group were back in the hall.

"Can I come too?" Crabbe asked in a soft voice.

"Uh," Harry had forgotten that Crabbe and Goyle were there. "I don't think that's a good idea."

Crabbe sighed. He nodded and walked away with hunched shoulders. Goyle patted his friend.

"Hey," Harry called. "How about tomorrow after lunch?"

Crabbe smiled brightly at that. Goyle gave Harry a silent nod in thanks. Harry exchanged looks with his friends.

"What was that?" Ron finally broke the silence.

"I don't know," Hermione said softly. "I don't think I want to know."

"Yeah," Harry nodded.