Mine // Severus Snape // Tom Riddle // (1)

Dragons

'Dragons.' Lula said softly as her, Tom, Theo and Trixi looked at the dragons from the edge of the forest.

'Fuck Trouble. What are they trying to do? Barbecue you?' Theo asked.

'I don't know. But I need to go to the library.' Lula said running ahead of them. 'See you tomorrow!' she called disappearing into the darkness. To no ones surprise Severus was the last one in the library.

'SEVERUS!" Lula said sitting down next to him. 'I need you.' She told him and his heart started to race. She needed him?

'You need me?' he croaked out. She looked around to make sure they were alone before leaning in her lips brushing against his ear as she spoke.

'Dragons.' She whispered in his ear.

'Dragons?' he questioned and she shushed him.

'The first challenge.' She told him. 'help me find every book you can. I need to know all their weaknesses and strengths.' Lula told him. She needed his help, studying dragons. She didn't NEED him.

'Of course Lula.' He said abandoning his book. She asked him for help, not Tom. That had to mean something, Severus thought as he searched the stacks with her.

'Dragons are naturally resilient to magic, often taking multiple casters for a spell to have any effect, and the Ministry of Magic classifies them as XXXXX, the highest danger ranking among magical creatures. Additionally, several dragon components are essential to magic; dragon heartstring is a common wand core, dragon hide can craft spell-resistant armor, and there 12 different uses for dragon's blood.' Lula told him excitedly.

'Common Welsh Green... Average Size: 18 ft.' lula closed her eyes and picked the beast as severus spoke. 'One of the smallest dragons, the Common Welsh measures under 20 feet and is easily distinguished by its emerald hues.'

'Boring.' Lula said. 'next!' she declared tipping back in her chair.

'Hebridean Black.. Average Size: 30 ft... Both larger and more aggressive than its fellow British Isles dragon (the Common Welsh), the Hebridean Black demands a sizable territory. Its ebon scales and piercing purple eyes grant a ferocious appearance, but the Scottish MacFusty clan has long been tasked with overseeing the Hebrideans, safeguarding the world from any potential havoc.'

'You think the scotts are going to give up their dragon for a competition?' Lula questioned.

"Probably not.' Severus flipped through the pages. 'which ones did you see?'

'Antipodean Opaleye, Size: 40 ft...' lula read. 'I don't think I saw one that size. 'Unlike most dragons,' she read on. '-who live in mountains, the Antipodean Opaleye prefers to dwell in valleys. Fortunately, this Australian native is one of the less aggressive reptiles, but what it lacks in belligerence, it makes up for in size, measuring a fierce 40 feet. Like several dragon species, females tend to be larger than males; a series of kangaroo deaths in the 1970s are believed to be the handiwork of a male Opaleye whose territory had been usurped by a female.'

'Romanian Longhorns are more common,' severus tilted the book to her. 'Size: 40 ft, like the Opaleye. Not only is this green dragon long, it's notably bulky and muscular, possessing horns that stick straight out. Longhorns prefer to first impale their prey, then roast them with their fire breath, making them daunting foes. That said, their numbers have declined due to the prominence of their horns as potion ingredients.'

'I hope James Barnes get stabbed in the gut by one of their horns!' lula declared a wicked grin on her face.

'Swedish Short-Snout... Average Size: 22 ft...' severus went on. 'Short-Snout is a small and rarely-seen silver-blue dragon. Don't let its size fool you: Short-Snouts are renowned for both their agility and for having the strongest flames of any dragon, burning hot enough to produce blue fire.'

'Peruvian Vipertooth. 15 ft,' lula read on. It had been hours and she was learning but they didn't really say how to take down a dragon, maybe she was to ride one.

'Does it say anything about riding them?' lula questioned pulling out another book.

'Riding a... a dragon?" severus questioned.

'Yeah I men what else would we be doing with a fucking dragon?'

'You want to ride a Vipertooth?' he questioned looking at the page she was on. 'The Vipertooth is the smallest dragon, it's easily one of the most deadly. They're remarkably stealthy, and despite a comparatively diminutive size, they have a particular hunger for human flesh. Even worse, they're the fastest of all dragons, and their fangs are venomous! Lula you are not riding that thing!' severus told her.

'Okay Mom,' she teased smiling over at him.

'Chinese Fireball...Average Size: 25 ft...' severus went on trying to think of a reason why they would be using dragons but it didn't make sense. Dragons were dangerous someone was going to get hurt, what if lula got hurt.

'FIREBALL" lula declared. 'I wonder if they help make fire whiskey,' lula joked.

'Chinese Fireballs aren't exceptionally large, but they're aggressive monsters sometimes called Liondragons.'

'Liondragons.' Lula repeated looking over the photo. 'Fun.'

'Fireballs are easily angered, and they're noted to be surprisingly agile and clever; some are even willing to share territory with up to two kin, occasionally even cooperating to take down larger threats. That doesn sound fun lula!' severus told her. but she just smiled and wrapped an arm around him.

'Norwegian Ridgeback-'

'that I saw that one!' lula declared.

'Ridgebacks aren't as hostile as some dragons, but they bear venomous fangs, prefer hunting large mammals, and develop the ability to shoot flames earlier than any other species.' Severus read slowly.

'Arent as hostile.' Lula assured him. 'see?'

'Venomous fangs and shooting fire from an early age.' Severus reminded her.

'Ukrainian Ironbelly-' lula went on.

'you saw that on too?'

'I don't think so but I want to find out if it has an iron belly.' She teased. 'The largest of all dragons, Ukrainian Ironbellys possess scales as strong as steel and produce scorching flames, though they're notably slower in flight compared to other species. The goblins of Gingotts Bank employed an Ironbelly to guard their vault... cool.'

'Again not cool.' Severus told her.

'Oh I saw that one too-' lula said as a librarian noticed them, hearing their hushed voices.

'Wrap it up slytherins, its past curfew as it is.' The librarian said. 'you are not supposed to be in here.'

'Sorry,' lula said putting books away quickly not wanting her to see what they were looking at.

'Lula.' Severus said keeping his hand in the book as she tried to close it. 'Hungarian Horntail... Average Size: 50 ft.... you saw this?' he questioned his eyes reading ahead.

'Yeah, pretty dragon..' lula said magically shelving more books.

'Hungarian horntails are considered the most dangerous of all dragon types, Hungarian Horntails are large, territorial, agile, and can shoot flames farther than other breeds. No doubt about it—with their well-rounded abilities and combative temperament, Horntails are the most dangerous dragons of all.'