The Alpha Dynasty (Sequel to MARKED FOR DESTINY) (Book 2 of 2)

75. Dragons & Demands

A while back, Harry had asked his guards to find out what had happened to the dragon that he and his friends had escaped on when they had broken into Gringotts.  He knew only two things, in that the dragon was blind and that it was a female.  He had thought at the time, how disgusted he was at the barbaric treatment of the animal, which was why he had vowed to right the wrong that had been committed.

He had also passed a new law, that Gringotts were never to house another dragon in that manner, but rather to ask if they would be willing to protect what was hidden beneath their floors.  Asking permission had made a welcome change, because now the goblins found themselves with so many dragons wanting to help them out, on the condition that they not be chained and tortured with those stupid bells.  And it was an offer that made sure that every dragon or any other magical creature had a turn.

Shortly after Christmas, Azura had visited him in a dream the one night, showing him where the dragon was.  Harry made plans with Ron and Hermoine to go and see her.  He thought it would be best if his friends accompanied him, because of what they had been through together. 

Not wanting to be away from his family, but also wanting to make good on his word, he knew he had to do what was right, and so kissing his husband and sons goodbye, they left for the hills of Scotland.  The place where they were going was high up in the mountains, and obviously a good choice if you wanted to hide away from the world.

Entering the cave, Harry waved his hand to try and feel anything coming from inside, but he felt nothing.  No emotion, no heartbeat, no heat, nothing.  Worried, he told the other two to stay put, he was going inside alone.  Hermoine scoffed at that and said fat chance.  "You might like it if the Omega loses his shit with you, but I don't.  We're coming with you Harry", she said, not wanting to be on the receiving end of a hex.  He nodded and said all right.  "Stay close to me".

They were halfway inside when Harry started feeling something.  He heard a faint sound, like a drum that was being beaten, dull and slow.  It was the heartbeat of the dragon, slowly dying.  He raised his hand to show that someone or something was inside, just beyond that reach.  They nodded in understanding, and followed him further into the cave very slowly.  

And lo and behold, there was the dragon that had helped them escape from the wizarding bank.  Harry approached her alone and in silence, not wanting to scare her.  He gently placed a hand on her flank, and she reared her head up in defense, angry at being startled unaware.  "Shhh", he tried to soothe her.  "It's okay girl.  It's okay", he kept saying, trying to placate her.  The sounds that she was making sounded as if she was in pain, and when Harry looked down, he saw that she still had rusted chains around her two feet.

He waved his hand and they fell off immediately, making her whimper and shake with agony and relief.  She was tired, exhausted actually, at having to just try and live.  Her life had been taken away from her, and he was angry from the start again.  "Shhh.  My name is Harry Potter.  You helped me and my friends during the war", he said kindly, not knowing but hoping that she could understand what he was saying.

She turned her attention to where his voice was coming from, and in her own croaky sound began to talk to him.  "I know who you are.  Alpha of all.  It was you who rescued me, not the other way round", she stated, and Harry was floored that she could understand and communicate with him.  

"I have come to help you", he offered.  

"How could you help me?", she asked with fear.  "Have you come to put me out of my misery?".

"No, never.  I have come to give you your eyesight back, if you would want it", he replied.  

"It has been many years since I have seen Alpha, and I do not need sight to know what is in front of me, or at my back", she spat.

"I know you are angry, as I am too.  I shall punish those responsible", he declared.  

The dragon dropped her head in thought.  She knew of the power of Harry Potter.  Why else would she have let him enter her cave.  "My name is Simonè.  I come from France.  I was smuggled out when just a baby", she started talking.  "The man who stole me still resides in his house, living and laughing.  If you set me free and give me my sight back, I will hunt him down and take his sight from him.  Do you think this wise Harry Potter?", she asked.  

"I will not restore your sight in order to seek revenge.  He will be dealt with, that I can assure you", he repeated.

"Yes, but can you assure me that I will be able to make it home.  Back to France where I belong?", she enquired.

"If that is what you wish, then yes I will do this", he stated.  She blew smoke out of her nostrils and then said to him, "You have given me your word Harry Potter.  I will not forget this", and laid back down in a show that he could continue.  It was going to be a long day.  Healing all of her wounds was going to take time, and a lot of magic, but Harry was determined.  With Ron and Hermoine by his side, they would be able to get it done sooner.

He raised his hand and started on his non verbal charms and spells, sometimes making the dragon groan out in relief and sometimes cry out in pain.  No one said it was going to be easy, but her beautiful scales started to form on her pale body.  Claws that had been ripped out, were growing back, her wings started to take their original shape, and Harry was glowing and shaking in his effort to free her of all her vices.

The last thing that remained was her sight.  He placed both hands on her closed eyes, and said an incantation, that no one had ever heard before. 

Eyes of sight

Colors bright

Night and day

Dark and light

He kept his hands on her for a while longer, and when he removed them, asked her to open her eyes slowly.  She did this, and it was like new life had been breathed into her.  Glowing yellow eyes were staring back at him.  He stepped closer to put a hand to her throat, to ensure that she would be able to do what all dragons were born to do.  Breathe fire.  They led her out of the cave, her eyes squinting at the brightness around her, she shook out her wings and gave a roar that shook the hill they were standing on.

Now, very proud and whole again, she faced him with grace.  "Thank you Harry Potter.  I shall repay you by not killing the man responsible.  I will return home, and I will never forget this", she said, and with a strong flap of her wings, she was up in the sky making her way back towards France, the home that she  had been torn away from.  Later on that day, when she flew over rivers, she would look at her beauty and pause to shake with relief that she had found her true purpose once again, and that was to fly.

Ron and Hermoine looked at Harry.  "Wow mate, you sure know how to amaze me", said Ron.  When Harry frowned in confusion, he said, "I was just doing what anyone would have done Ron.  No one deserves what she got", and they made their way back home, because someone had to pay for the misdeed of what they had done.

Harry had found the man responsible for smuggling with dragons, and found out that he was still doing it.  Getting a list of names from the man about who was involved, and where the dragons could be found, he asked the Aurors to attend to it.  Punishment to the smuggler was that he had to go to Hallz of Redemption for a number of years.  For every dragon that he had ever smuggled, he was to spend one full year behind bars for it.

Needless to say, there were too many to count, making his sentence seem almost one that would last what was left of his miserable pathetic life.