chapter 3, so soon, isn't it a miracle! :)
Warnings: contain character death and slash in later chapters. Will not be OotP and/or HBP combatable.
Disclaimer: I own none of Potterverse. It's all owned by the wonderful Ms. J. K. Rowling
Feedback would be much appreciated as I'm a relatively new writer.
Chapter 3. Dragons ahoy!
As the night started to fall the train began slowing down.
"Do you see the castle?" inquired Sirius trying to look behind James, who sat next to the window.
"No... I don't think we're suppose to be stopping. At least I don't see a station or anything like a platform." James said hesitantly.
Severus was getting a very bad feeling about this. Professor Slughorn had told him that there had been some attacks in the wizarding world. A bit like the IRA attacks in Ireland. No one had died yet, but there had been some serious injuries. Harry was tense beside him. It was clear that he'd also heard of this Dark Lord and his supporters.
"Hey, I can see some people on the side of the train..." James exclaimed. "Wait, what are they doing?"
He asked in puzzlement.
Now James had piqued Severs' interest and he'd to see for himself what was going on. Wait, what were they doing?! It looked like the people in robes - they're wizards, Severus reminded himself, not idiots playing dress-up (Severus really didn't understand the cultures fascination with ropes.) - were trying to move something of the train track.
W-was that a... DRAGON! Severus had known intellectually that there were real dragons in the wizarding world, but this was the real thing and his brain just couldn't compute.
"Wow! Is that a real dragon?" Harry yelped eyes as big as dinner plates. James and Sirius were struck dumb by the sight themselves, but seemed to agree with the sentiment.
The wizards were apparently trying to move the dragon of the train tracks and into a odd metal and wood box. The dragon was clearly an adolescent, its size only a quarter of the train engine and it's color an odd of-white. The boys watched the wizards wrestle the dragon inside and secure it for transportation. Night had fallen by the time the train started moving again.
"So, that was a dragon." Harry stated still numb with wonder.
"Yeah, we don't usually see many, because they're usually at the preserve. That one must have gotten free somehow. I don't think it was born in the wild, otherwise the mother would have attacked the train and the wizards capturing her baby." James explained. Sirius was nodding along, clearly agreeing.
An hour later the train pulled to a stop in front of the station. The boys piled out of their compartment and began looking around for some sign on what to do next.
"First years! First Years! Here!" a booming voice called from the darkness.
A weaving light showed the boys a giant of a man standing near the end of the platform.
Severus had never seen such a massive man. "Was he even human?" Thought Severus privately.
After awhile as all the first years were gathered around the man, he started to lead them down a path towards the rocky slope. Slippery stairs later they were told to get on boats at the shore of the lake. Harry took Severus' hand and watched the castle come to view. It was as magnificent as he remembered. It was home.
Severus watched as a great fairy tale castle glided into view and knew just then he had made the right choice to come. The dragon had shaken him up more then he would admit to himself, but now, now with that sight in front of him and Harrys hand in his, he knew that this was going to be the greatest adventure he'd ever have.
TBC...
AN: some suspense for you who thought this wasn't going anywhere. The dragon will have a part to play later, so it wasn't just a filler or was it? *eg* Shorter chapter than before, but in twice the time. :)