Disclaimer – I solemnly swear that JKR owns everything Harry Potter. Whether or not I am up to no good with her characters is for you to decide.

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Harry Potter: Dragon Whisperer

Chapter 36 – Appointments

2:35pm

Wednesday, 1 September 1995

Dragon Weyr of Great Britain

Papa Stour, Shetland Islands, Scotland

.

§Speaker, the two-legs have arrived§.

Harry looked across to where Farlys had dropped in beside him, her great wings rising and falling as they flew over the island.

§Thank you, Farlys. I guess we'd better go and talk to them§, he replied. §Are the others aware§?

§Yes, Speaker, they are already winging to the meeting place§,she replied.

It had been peaceful up there in the air with only the winds, clouds and, of course, a dozen or so dragons keeping him company. Indeed, he'd been the only human on the island since he'd arrived that morning, which had given him time to survey the island and to have the conversations that he'd needed to have.

The island of Papa Stour looked remarkedly different from when he'd first laid eyes on it. Not that that was unexpected. More tonnes of rocks had been shipped onto the island than Harry could count in the past week. And, once they had arrived and the shrinking charm had been removed, the dragons had gone to work. Rocks and boulders ranging in size from small cars to a triple-decker bus had been caught up by the dragons and moved around the island.

Most of the dragons had turned the rocks that they'd gathered into great nests; others had been more ambitious and piled the rocks carefully on top of each other to create dragon-sized caves. The location of each weyr had been carefully chosen by each dragon and from what Harry could tell, there had been very few disagreements among them over who 'settled' where. By mutual decision, the area around the buildings that would be used by the human dragon handlers was given a wide berth by all dragons.

Bringing his broom around, Harry lay flat against the handle and put on a burst of speed. For a brief instant, he wondered whether he could get to the upcoming meeting first. The green nose of Farlys reappearing in his peripheral vision abused him of the notion.

As he and Farlys approached the buildings, the other dragons that had been flying with him pealed away. Five dragons had arrived before them and Harry marvelled once again at seeing so many different types and colours of dragons together – Hungarian Horntail, Ukrainian Ironbelly, Norwegian Ridgeback and two Hibernian Blacks – soon to be added to by Farlys' Common Welsh Green joining them. The three wizards and one witch were nearby, their distance from the dragons indicating their varying levels of braveness.

"Harry!" Charlie called, raising his hand in greeting.

"Hey, Charlie," Harry replied as he landed beside his friend before nodding to the other three. "Madam Grimblehawk, Angus, Minister Fudge."

"Mister Potter," Fudge replied, bustling forward with his hand outstretched, both eyes firmly locked onto the bulk of the dragons behind Harry.

"I've told you before, Minister," Harry sighed. "The dragons won't hurt you unless you hurt them first."

"Yes. Quite so," Fudge replied, clearing his throat and pulling off his green bowler hat and holding it in front of his chest as though it was some kind of shield.

"Thank you for meeting us, Harry," Mathilda smiled. She then turned to the dragons and bowed to them, just as she'd seen Harry himself do. "If you would give my greetings to the dragons, Harry and tell them that we value their input in the decisions today?"

Harry blinked at her, surprised by her actions. It did, though, solidify the idea that he'd had in mind for a while now.

§My friends, Mathilda greets you all and thanks you for being here. She asks for your wise counsel this day in the discussions of the two-legs§,he said.

§We like this one, Speaker§, Myrddys stated. §It is uncommon for a two-leg to show dragons any respect§.

§Not even the two-legs at our Weyr treat us this way§, Ramaranth commented.

§They are set in their ways but they are trying§, Harry replied. §This Weyr is new and I think the two-legs here are trying something new to them§.

"Harry?" Mathilda asked.

He smiled at her. "The dragons return your greetings and are impressed by how you're including them today."

Fudge, Harry saw, gave a firm nod, a slight frown on his face and Harry wondered what the man was thinking. Fudge had wanted to hold this meeting at the Ministry; Harry, though, had pushed back, insisting that it be held here, where the dragons could also be involved. After all, the decisions today would affect the dragons and the weyr for years to come.

"The dragons are very happy with the weyr," Harry told them all. "I think that they've almost finished creating their own individual weyrs."

"Do they need any more rocks?" Mathilda asked.

"Are there any more dragons that have yet to come here?" Harry asked.

"Our records are that there are only four more we're still trying to locate," Mathilda replied.

"There are also eighteen wild dragons in Iceland," Fudge stated. "I'm in negotiations with the Icelandic Ministry to have those dragons found and brought here."

"They'll be better off here with their own kin rather than off on their own," Angus nodded approvingly.

"In that case, if you could bring in another load or two of rocks for the new dragons when they get here, that would be good," Harry replied to the original question, making a mental note to talk to Myrddys or Bremlys later about sending a dragon or two to Iceland to find the weyrs of their brethren, regardless of how the Ministerial negotiations went.

"Your report, Madam Grimblehawk, stated that the Dragon Weyr of Great Britain was ready to get underway properly?" Fudge asked.

"The buildings have now all been altered and fitted as necessary, and I have nine dragon handlers and six support staff signed and ready to start work next Monday. That's in addition to Angus, here, who knows this island almost as well as the dragons," Mathilda replied proudly.

"We've also had the two wee islands to the north warded an' filled with flocks o' sheep, goats and coos for the dragons," Angus added.

"Sounds to me as though you're only missing one thing that a dragon reserve needs," Charlie stated. "A Head Dragon Handler."

"Which, I believe, is why we're here today," Fudge said.

"I have an idea about that and it's why I insisted that we decide who that should be here, where we can make sure that the dragons are happy with the choice," Harry said.

"But none of us can talk to dragons like you can, Harry," Mathilda reminded him.

"I know," Harry replied. "But the dragons knowing which two-leg … er, witch or wizard, is in charge will make it easier for them. The reverse is also true – the dragon handlers knowing which dragon is the Weyr Leader is also important."

"Which dragon is that?" Charlie asked, looking over the three native dragons, Farlys, Bremlys and Myrddys.

"I'll discuss that with the dragons after the Head Handler has been chosen," Harry replied.

"Madam Grimblehawk, as Head of the Department for the Regulation and Monitoring of the Dragons of Great Britain, I believe that it falls to you to nominate who the Head Dragon Handler will be," Minister Fudge smiled.

"The choice hasn't been easy," she replied, her eyes flicking to both Harry and Charlie. "The most experienced of the nine that I've employed is Jonas Winderwood. He's originally from Canada and has been working at the Draconian Sanctuary of Tanzania for the past twenty-three years. He has Beast Masteries in both dragons and nundus. In my opinion, he is the most qualified and should do a fine job."

"He does sound like just the man we need," Fudge nodded.

"If I may, I'd like to suggest a different person for the job," Harry interjected, his eyes firmly fixed on Mathilda.

"Yes? Who would that be?" she asked.

"You."

"Me? You can't be serious!" she exclaimed.

"Don't say it!" Charlie quickly interjected, cutting off the reply that Harry had no intention of making in that crucial moment.

"I think that you would be the perfect person for the job," Harry insisted. "You know the dragons, what they need and you've worked tirelessly for this weyr since even before it was a weyr."

"Harry, Mathilda doesn't even have a Mastery," Charlie pointed out.

"So?" he shot back. "That thing isn't worth the parchment it's written on! It doesn't touch on dragon culture, working with dragons as an intelligent species, the true needs and wants of dragons or anything! You know that."

Briefly, Harry noted the frown on Charlie's face that quickly morphed into one of intense contemplation.

"But I don't know anything about running a dragon reserve, let alone a weyr," Mathilda stated.

Harry smiled at her. "Just the fact that you are able to differentiate between a 'weyr' and a dragon reserve is an excellent sign, one that proves my point. You care for the dragons, that's worth more than anything else in my book. The other stuff, the dragon handlers can teach you."

"I don't know, Harry," she replied uncertainly.

"Harry, Mathilda is one of my sub-Department Heads, I need her at the Ministry," Fudge put in.

"I get that you need someone to do the paperwork," Harry replied. "But this is the real world and the dragons need an advocate here. Look, how about we ask the ones that matter?"

Harry took a couple of paces forward and bowed to the six dragons looking on interestedly.

§My friends, we are currently deciding who should be the Leader of two-legs here at the Weyr. I have proposed Mathilda to fill that role and seek your counsel§, he said, laying a hand on the witch's shoulder.

Instantly, a deep thrum filled the air, not just from the six dragons in front of them but also from a dozen others arrayed nearby.

§You are our Speaker§, Myrddys stated. §Your thoughts will always carry great weight with us, more so in this as your wisdom echoes our own. Your choice is very good, Speaker; we will be happy to have her weyr here with us§.

"There, that settles it," Harry beamed, turning back to the humans. "The dragons want Mathilda to be the Head Handler, too."

"Is that what that noise means?" Mathilda asked.

"The dragons thrum like that when they're happy or they approve of something," Harry nodded.

Harry watched her look at the dragons for a long minute before she turned to Angus who gave her an encouraging nod and then to the Minister.

"Minister Fudge," she said, straightening. "I formally request a transfer from the Ministry to become the Head Dragon Handler of the Dragon Weyr of Great Britain."

Fudge stared at her before looking at Harry and then casting a nervous look at the dragons.

"Very well, Mathilda," he finally said. "We'll work out the arrangements back at the office but consider yourself reassigned."

"Thank you, Minister," she smiled before spinning about and bowing deeply to the dragons. "Harry, please tell them of my new position and that I promise to do everything in my power to do a good job as the Head Dragon Handler."

§Mathilda thanks you for approving of her for the position as Leader of the two-legs here and vows to work to ensure that you have all that you need to live a good life here in the weyr§,Harry translated.

Once again, the dragons thrummed in approval, enhanced by bugles of happiness from both Farlys and Bremlys.

"I'd say yon dragons approve," Angus laughed.

"I'm hoping that I'll be able to call on you to help me talk to the dragons if any problems come up, Harry?" Mathilda asked.

"As much as I can," Harry nodded. "This weyr may not be a part of my official contract but as Speaker for the dragons, I aim to visit all the dragons of the world as much as I can."

"I am very glad to hear that, Harry," Fudge beamed. "May I quote you on that? I understand that you can't stay in Britain permanently because of your contract but telling the wizarding public that you'll be back periodically will hopefully placate them, especially after the allegations of this prophecy that Dumbledore was sprouting at his trial."

Harry sighed. The Daily Prophet had been particularly espousing the idea that Harry needed to stay in the country to 'keep them safe'. They'd even begun bandying about a new name for him: the Chosen One. As far as he was concerned, it was even worse than The-Boy-Who-Lived!

"If you think it'll help, sure," he replied.

"Okay, we have our Head Dragon Handler," Charlie said, "so, which dragon is Weyr Leader?"

"I guess that's my cue," Harry grinned at him.

He turned and once again bowed to the six dragons arrayed in front of him.

§My friends, the two-legs have their Leader to help the Weyr§, he began. §It is only right that this new weyr also have a Weyr Leader§.

Instantly, the dragons began thrumming in approval and anticipation. Bugles from those dragons sitting on the outskirts of the area sounded and Harry knew that they were calling for all the dragons of the weyr to attend them.

§You are the Speaker of Dragons, you Speak for us, with our Voice. We hold your words above our wings. We ask you, Speaker, to decide for us which dragon shall Lead§,Myrddys said, lowering his great head.

As he'd been speaking, the air around them filled with dragons, all winging towards them before perching in a circle around Harry and the six dragons. A glance behind him, showed him that Charlie, Angus and Mathilda were huddled together with Fudge in the centre of them.

§I thank you for your trust in me. I do not take this charge lightly§, Harry said, bowing once more.

Slowly he turned about, taking in the dozens of green Common Welsh dragons and black Hibernian dragons. Finally, he once again faced the three native dragons that he knew the best.

§I have thought long and hard about who I believe would make the best Weyr Leader§,he began, knowing that dragons were not ones for long, drawn-out speeches or actions. §And, after careful consideration, I declare Myrddys, the eldest dragon of the Weyr, to be the first Weyr Leader of Albion§.

A thrumming so powerful that the very ground under his feet vibrated permeated the island with the dragon's happiness and approval, even as a great many dragons began trumpeting in the air loud enough for Harry and the other humans to clap their hands over their ears in an attempt to prevent hearing loss. Dragons leapt skywards, winging about in an aerial display that awed Harry beyond anything that he'd seen before, and he couldn't help but join in their happiness with laughter of his own.

Finally, after ten minutes of dragon celebration, they had quietened enough for Myrddys to step towards Harry and extend his long neck outwards and down so that his chin was laying on the ground at Harry's feet. Even with that, Harry still had to look up into Myrddys' eyes.

§Speaker, you have given me a great honour§, the Weyr Leader stated. §I will not let you down but Lead the Weyr in wisdom and honour, for all dragons, not just here in our Weyr, but for all dragons-kind§.

Harry beamed at the great Hibernian Black and reached out to pat him on his snout.

§I know you will, Myrddys§, he said.

"Harry?" a tentative voice asked.

"Mathilda," Harry said, turning towards her. "Come meet the Weyr Leader, Myrddys."

"Hello, Myrddys," she said, despite knowing that the dragon couldn't understand her.

"It's alright, you can touch him," Harry said.

Cautiously, Mathilda took an extra step forward before slowly reaching out and placing her hand beside Harry's. He smiled and stepped back, leaving Weyr Leader and Head Handler to get to know each other.

This, he thought, bodes well for the future.

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7:35am

Thursday, 2 August 1995

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland

.

He knew that he should question it, after all, it made no logical sense. Not that logic and magic ever really went hand in hand. But this?

Harry shook his head at the wonder of it. Three dragons flying over Scotland, over houses and hamlets, even towns and a city and not one muggle had seen them! Not one person had looked up at them and pointed and screamed or run away. Running. Yes, Harry was positive that there would be lots of running and instant panic at the sight of three enormous dragons flying through the sky. But there wasn't. Instead there was simply … nothing.

He supposed that the dragons had some sort of innate 'cloak of invisibility' or a magical field that stopped them from being seen by non-magicals. Which made sense. He was sure that he'd read somewhere (or maybe Newt had mentioned it?) that other magical creatures had it as well. And the only reason that magical creatures had made it into muggle fairy tales and myths and legends was that they'd been seen by someone with a hint of magic in them, a squib maybe, and had told the story. Maybe one day, he'd ask.

Whatever the reason, all he knew was that he could look down on the people there, going about their normal routine and see them but, if they looked up, all they saw was the endless blue sky dotted with the occasional cloud, nothing more. If only they knew that, not that far above them, he was there, riding on the back of a dragon.

Harry grinned when the small town below took on some very recognisable features. Hogsmeade. There was no doubt in his mind.

Leaning back into Ramaranth's spine that he was wedged between, Harry pulled out his special mirror.

"Daphne!" he called.

Her face appeared almost instantly, as though she'd been expecting his call.

"Harry!" she smiled. Then, "where are you?"

"Hi, Daph!" he said, ignoring her question. "I was wondering if you could do something for me?"

"That would depend," she replied.

A hint of familiar, bushy-looking hair on the edge of her mirror told him that she wasn't alone, which worked perfectly.

"I was wondering if you could take this mirror to Hagrid?" he asked.

"Hagrid? Why?" she asked and now he could also see a flash of long red hair on Daphne's other side.

"Because I have a surprise for him," Harry replied. "I think you, Nev, Hermione and Susan would enjoy it, too."

"Very well, then," she replied.

He waited then, seeing the image in the mirror jostling about as Daphne stood from where she was obviously sitting in the Great Hall and began walking.

Ramaranth's wing tipped and he leaned into the soaring curve. The majestic sight below him took his breath away. He'd seen it from the air before but from the back of a dragon was something else!

"Harry? Are you still there?" Daphne asked.

"I'm here," he confirmed, smiling at her.

The next thing that he knew, the mirror had changed hands and he was now looking into the extremely hairy face of the very first magical person that he knew.

"Hi, Hagrid!" he called.

"Harry!" Hagrid boomed back at him, a massive grin showing behind his beard. "It's goo' ta see ya!"

"You, too, Hagrid," Harry grinned.

"This is a marvellous little thing ya got here, this mirro'," Hagrid said.

"Yeah it is," Harry replied. "Hagrid, I've got a surprise for you."

"Ye don' need ta be gettin' me anythin', Harry," Hagrid replied. "Just gettin' ta talk to ya is special enou'."

"I know, Hagrid, but believe me, you're going to love this," Harry assured his biggest friend. "All you have to do is go to the window and look outside."

"Ou'side, you say?" Hagrid asked, obviously confused.

"Please, Hagrid," Harry insisted.

The extreme jostling of the mirror told Harry that Hagrid had agreed to do as asked.

Lowering his hand slightly, Harry switched focus to where he, Ramaranth, Grouleth and Norberta were. Already, they'd flown over the quidditch pitch and were now banking along the side of the great castle. He saw the entrance appear and beyond it, the windows that they needed.

§There, Ramaranth§! he called, pointing the way.

How she saw his finger, he was never quite sure. All Harry knew was that the three dragons slowed to an almost stop, hovered right outside the window for a second before flaring their wings and landing.

"Harry! Dragons! Norbert!" the great, booming voice was nothing compared to what he suspected it would have been like in there with Hagrid as opposed to having thick castle walls between them.

"I think Hagrid's seen us," he commented dryly.

"You don't say," a clearly disgruntled Daphne said, appearing back in the mirror. "Next time you decide to do something so … so … wonderful, warn a girl to use a muffling charm on her ears, yes?"

"Sorry, Daph," he replied contritely.

Her exasperated sigh seemed a little put on, especially when he noticed the smile around her lips.

"I'll see you in a minute," she said before the mirror went back to being just a mirror.

Pounding footsteps had Harry's head whipping towards the castle's entrance a second before Hagrid burst forth and began jogging towards them. Quickly, Harry swung his leg over and slid down Ramaranth's side, thanking her with an affectionate slap for the well-placed leg that he used as a step.

"Norbert!" Hagrid bellowed.

The Norwegian Ridgeback might not be able to understand Hagrid's words, but Harry could tell that she recognised the man that had helped hatch her. Swirls of excited gold were added to the blues and greens in her eyes and she took a step towards Hagrid, her wings extended. Hagrid, of course, didn't stop despite the obvious dangers (to everyone else) of running up and hugging a dragon.

"Oh, Norbert, ye came to see ya Mummy! What a good boy ye are!" the half-giant blubbered.

"Ah, Hagrid," Harry said, figuring to get the most important embarrassment out of the way first. "Norberta's a girl."

"A girl?" Hagrid said, pausing in his hug to stare up at the dragon whose neck was curved right over so that she could peer down at him. "Are ye sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Harry replied, ignoring the snickers from not only his friends but what looked like the rest of Hogwarts who had piled out of the doors to see them.

"Well, that's terrific! Truly wonderful," Hagrid said before going back to hugging his 'daughter'.

"Harry?" Daphne asked, careful approaching. "You didn't mention that you were coming today."

"Surprise!" he grinned.

§Is it pleasing to see your mate again, Speaker§, Ramaranth stated.

Harry grinned up at her before repeating what she'd said to Daphne, albeit with a slight modification to her words. After all, even though Daphne didn't mind what she was known as, there were other ears around that had no business jumping to the wrong conclusion.

Daphne bowed to Ramaranth, an act that pleased the dragon, evident by Ramaranth's deep thrumming.

"It's good to see you again, too, Ramaranth," she said.

"Mister Potter."

Harry would know that voice anywhere and turned to see his old transfiguration teacher standing there, ramrod straight in front of the majority of her students.

"Hi, Professor!" Harry replied, walking over to her.

"May I ask what the meaning of bringing three dragons to Hogwarts is? I trust we're not going to witness another 'First Task'?" she asked dryly.

"No, Professor," Harry laughed. "Nothing like that. I simply thought that, since Norberta was nearby that Hagrid might like a visit from her. And I figured that everyone here wouldn't mind an up close and personal experience with a dragon. Think of the learning opportunities."

"I see," she replied, and Harry was sure that there was a hint of an upturn in the corner of her mouth, although it was so fleeting that he wasn't sure if he was mistaken. "I trust that you will ensure that it is safe for everyone?"

"Definitely," Harry nodded quickly. "As long as everyone is respectful, I know my friends will be gentle."

"Yeah, Harry, like the dragons wouldn't do anything that you asked," Neville quipped.

Harry shrugged. "I don't control them, Nev, you know that. We just have a mutual respect for each other."

§Speaker, would your green friend wish for another flight§? Grouleth asked, a note of hope in his voice.

Harry's eyebrows rose. While he'd known that Grouleth had taken a liking to Neville, he hadn't realised just how much.

"Nev, Grouleth is asking if 'my green friend' would like to go for another flight," Harry asked.

"Green friend?" Neville asked, eyeing the Ironbelly whose head had extended so that his snout was within Neville's reach.

"The dragons can smell the earth on you," Harry shrugged. "Well? Would you?"

"If that'd be okay," Neville said, having taken a deep breath and squared his shoulders.

"Gryffindor," Hermione huffed but Harry could tell that it was good-naturedly.

§Neville would be delighted§, Harry told Grouleth.

The fact that Grouleth instantly crouched, his leg angled just right for Neville, was a clear invitation.

The watching crowd of students gasped in shock as they watched Neville awkwardly scale the great grey hide before settling in between two ridge spines. Of course, Neville climbing astride Grouleth had a reaction from both Norberta and Ramaranth.

§Speaker! Tell my two-leg to climb up§! Norberta insisted.

§Your mate is welcome to fly with me, Speaker, as she has done before§, Ramaranth said.

Quickly, Harry translated for Hagrid and Daphne, causing Hagrid to burst into tears and hug the Ridgeback all the more. By the time that Harry, Susan and Hermione had coaxed him astride Norberta, Daphne had also climbed atop Ramaranth.

And then, as one, the three dragons crouched slightly before leaping skywards.

"Why couldn't you bring Farlys and Bremlys?" Susan huffed.

"Next time?" Harry replied.

"We will hold you to that, Harry. I hope you know that," Hermione stated.

"I never thought that I'd see the day," Professor McGonagall breathed. "People riding dragons! And two of my own students at that!"

"Can I have a ride too?" Ron called.

Harry looked about, found the red-head and instantly shook his head.

"No," he replied flatly. "Hagrid is a very special case and there are reasons that the dragons will allow Daphne, Neville, Hermione and Susan to fly with them, reasons that I'm not going to go into. They will, however, allow everyone to get close enough to touch them, providing that everyone is respectful."

"What would happen if they think we're not being respectful?" a worried-sounding Katie Bell asked.

"I'll leave that to your imagination," Harry said, letting his gaze slowly sweep over the crowd to allow that to happen.

"I can assure you, Mister Potter, that everyone will be on their best behaviour," Professor McGonagall stated.

"I never thought otherwise," he smiled innocently.

Switching his gaze upwards, he watched Ramaranth soaring over the Black Lake, a massive smile on Daphne's face, a grin that was echoed in the faces of Neville and Hagrid as Grouleth and Norberta followed in Ramaranth's wake.