Thicker than Blood (Draco Malfoy love story)

Chapter eleven: Rarest of all

Phoenix's POV

I knock on Hagrid's door, bouncing in place from excitement. the air around me is cold, but the egg provides enough heat to keep the cold away from me.

I stand in shock as the door opens to reveal a crossbow, pointed straight at my heart. It has a silver tip.

I feel that same heart break. He never aims for the heart. He always aims for the head. And he uses steel arrows. Or, he did. Before I got here. He knows what I am.

I look at his face, and sure enough, he is looking at me in disgust. I feel a tear slip down my face.

He freezes, then his face melts into a mask of pain, sorrow, and apology. "Phoenix? What's wrong with ye?! You're bleeding!" He says, looking at my bloody tears. I cry blood. Just another gift that keeps on giving.

I look at him, confused about his change. "If you're going to kill me, just do it. I don't want a public trial." I say, my voice thick. Betrayed by the one person I thought would accept me no matter what.

He looks at me, seemingly confused, then looks at his crossbow. he looks at me in horror, then tosses it onto his tattered couch, pulling me into a hug. "I'm so sorry! I should've explained earlier! I've been having problems with a werewolf! That's why I aim for the heart, that's why the arrow has a silver tip! I didn't think ye'd take it like that! I don't care what ye are, I could never kill ye!" I hold him tight, relieved that he accepted me. Then I freeze.

"What...I am?" I look at him.

He gives me a gentle smile. "Yes, Phoenix, I know what ye are. Both of your parents were my best friends in this school. They told me what they were in our sixth year. And I still loved them. I took care of your fathers blood needs, snagging dragon blood most often."

I look at him in shock. "I don't understand..."

He smiles at me. "Come on in, girl." He stands to the side and gently pulls me in the door. Then he starts fidgeting. "It's not much, but it has a roof over it."

I look around the cabin, smiling at the fire in the corner. "I love it, it's so cozy. Feels like... like home." I feel tears start to well up in my eyes, but I push them down so I don't worry him.

He looks embarrassed. "Alright now, let's see this egg ye've been goin' on 'bout here lately."

Remembering why I hauled my ass out of bed at two in the morning, I reach into my bag and pull out the egg. I unwrap it slowly, like it might explode.

From Hagrid's reaction, it may as well have.

He jumps back, looking horrified. "Bloody hell, Phoenix! Where'd you get that thing?"

I look at him, confused. "I found it back home, in a cave. Why?"

He looks at me, disbelief and awe on his face. "Did it... was it glowing when you found it?" He asks, looking as if he doesn't recognize me.

I think back. "No. Not until I touched it. Why? What is it?"

His expression become reverent and sad at the same time. "It's the rarest egg ever found. Irata. Angry love. It only glows for it's other half, the one who is destined by fate to have their soul intertwined with it's own. That person is said to get many gifts from it. But only someone who has been through something horrible, yet forgave themselves and learned to love again, may touch the egg. It will kill anyone else."

This time, I'm the disbelieving one. Just then, it starts to move.

I gasp and set it on the counter, watching with wide eyes. The glow slowly fades as it rocks back and forth. A scratching noise, so faint it's barely there, slowly gets louder. Then it cracks.

There is a blinding flash of blue light. I scream as white-hot pain flashes through my body. My head and right hand get the worst of it. I scream, beg for it to stop. Then it does.

I open my eyes slowly and find myself still standing where I was, Hagrid looking at me in confusion.

"Are you okay?" He asks, concerned.

I don't answer, because my eyes are locked on the counter. The whole thing is now just a charred hunk of wood. But in the center, is a miracle.

A tiny, blue-green dragon, sits glowing on what was once a table. It tries to stand, then wobbles and falls. I can't help laughing, but it's not a mean laugh. It's just adorable, watching it try to walk. It's barely the size of my palm.

"She's so beautiful..." I say quietly. At the sound of my voice, she looks up and stares at me, her bright green eyes full of wonder.

"How do ye know it's a girl?" He asks, confused. I don't even have to think about the answer.

"I just do." I reach over and pick her up gently, sitting her in my palm and stroking her head. It feels natural, as if I'd done it a hundred times.

"Bloody hell! Phoenix... your hand..." He looks at my right hand in horror.

I suddenly remember the pain it had been in, just moments ago. Like I had shoved it into a white-hot furnace. I flinch from the memory.

As if she had felt my pain, she starts licking my hand. I laugh as her tiny little tongue tickles my fingers.

I look down at my hand and freeze.

On my hand, starting on the left side of my wrist and going down my thumb and forefinger, is a glowing blue tattoo, the same color as my baby dragon.

Before I can even speak, it comes to me. Our soul mark.

I freeze. That wasn't my voice... I look at my dragon. Did she just...?

I look at her questioningly. She just looks at me and licks at her wing.

I smile, then look at Hagrid as a thought occurs to me. "Well, we have to name her, don't we?"

He laughs. "I suppose so. What should we name her?" He looks closer at her, slowly extending his finger towards her, giving her time to decide if she wanted him to touch her. He stops a couple inches from her.

She looks at me, as if unsure. I smile and nod. She turns back and walks towards his finger, with my help. She smells it for a second, then starts licking it.

I smile again. "She likes you." I look at her, instantly deciding on her name.

"Alainn."

Hagrid looks at me, confused.

"Irish for beautiful." I smile at her, feeling like a doting mother.