Unexpectedly Expecting

42: Virtual Meeting

Severus

He was in a valley with mountains all around seeming to hem him in on all sides. He heard the sounds of sparring, and the roars of a dragon nearby, so he went to the sound. He came upon a black dragon, and it was roaring as if in disapproval of the two young men fighting with...swords, and some kind of wandless magic. One boy held up the other with his glowing left hand, and the other one clawed at his throat. Then the one being choked executed an advanced legilimency attack, and the attacking boy dropped him.

The dragon seemed to eye Severus sharply, and a smooth male voice issued from the dragon as his golden yellow eyes looked him over: "I wondered if I would meet you in this manner, Lord Severus. Excuse me, while I attempt to rein in my unruly Rider."

The dragon roared, and the two young men turned to where Severus stood beside the dragon. The attacking young man looked strikingly like...well, him, only if he had pointed elven ears, and starry black eyes that seemed to have no whites in them. The other young man had a similar face to his, only Severus could see more of Hermione in the way his face was shaped, and a sprinkling of freckles across his nose and cheeks. But he had veela wings, and didn't seem to have control over the enormous black dragon among them.

The two young men looked him over as they sheathed their swords on their belts, and the starry eyed one approached him first. "I had hoped we would meet you like this, father."

Severus drew in a heavy breath, and let it out as he cleared his throat. "So am I. How did you come by the dragon?"

His son grinned. "Oh, Lorcan. Yeah, I acquired his egg during career day at Hogwarts sixth year when one of the Draconologists was showing off Lorcan's mother like she was some sort of pet on display. Anyway, I didn't mean to touch it, but when I did, my magic bound itself to him and did this."

He removed his left glove, and on his palm was a silvery birthmark of sorts that emitted great power. "May I?"

His other son warned, "That might not be wise, dad. I've read that touching a Dragon Rider's Mark could create a need for your magic to seek out a dragon of your own."

"It's fine, Jude, he can if he wants. Besides, I think it would be bad ass to have another Rider in the family."

Severus touched the vaguely dragon shape on his son's palm, and he felt an odd vibration through his whole body before he removed his hand. The dragon sniffed him, and commented in his mind, "Ah, yes. Blood calls to blood. You need to seek out your dragon, wizard. It is destiny for you two to unite."

"And if I don't?"

"Your magic won't reach its full potential, and..." A note of sadness crept into the dragon's tone, "And I won't find my mate."

"There are many dragons in the wizarding world...Lorcan."

"None that are tied to wizards and witches, or Riders as they are properly called. Not every wand user can handle that level of power enhancing their magical cores, and making them immortal. Now, I am going to go hunt for some goats, unless you two are going to try and stab each other with swords again," The dragon explained.

Lorcan flew off, and his son kicked up a cloud of dust with his boot. "I thought he'd keep that tidbit a secret, but it's true. If you find Lorcan's mate, well, you'll look like me, and live forever. Mum won't, she's not like us...at least I don't think she is. Jude is a veela, as you see. But my name is Aramis."

"Do you have siblings?"

Jude put in, "As far as we know, we will, but Aramis won't meet Lorcan until he is sixteen. We are all in your mind, dad. Hell, we're not out of the womb yet, but I was born with these wings, and unless events change, Aramis is destined to be a dragon Rider, as are you."