Knowledge is Power

Chapter 36

When they were in Wales, Severus took the stone so that he may communicate with Areecen to let the dragon guide them to his cave. He was able to sense their location now that they were closer. With him directing Severus they only had to apparate twice more to reach him. Mag was a bit disappointed to see no treasure upon entering the dark cave. She lit the way with her wand pendant, extending it outward on its chain.

The dragon stood as they drew closer and he was magnificent enough to take Mag's breath away. He was a white Norwegian ridgeback, and his eyes were a silvery green that put her in mind of pools of moving light.
"You're beautiful," she managed.
If the dragon's thought had felt bigger than Nightshades at Hogwarts, it was nearly overpowering when they stood in front of him.
//Thank you, Witch.//

For his part, Severus felt the dragon examining his mind much in the way he never wanted Voldemort to be able to do. It was as if the creature knew everything there was to know about who he was in less than ten seconds. Tossing his head, the dragon's eyes seemed to radiate...contempt for what he saw. Severus scowled defensively.
//You are an unpleasant little wizard, aren't you?//
//At least Voldemort hasn't trapped my essence,// Severus shot back.

//Prof! Please do not talk shit to a dragon,// Nightshade frantically begged.
Severus bit back a sigh. He knew it was unwise to talk shit to a dragon, but the thing was provoking him quite unnecessarily when he'd come to help it.

//I am not an it. I am a he just as you are. And you only came to help me because you did not wish your enemy to have my power,// the dragon scathingly informed.
Mag was unhappy that the two weren't getting along because...she stood here with her favorite person in the world, staring into the face of a real dragon, her favorite creature in the world, and she wanted the moment to be bloody nice!

Plucking the hematite from Severus's hand she stepped forward and presented it to Areecen.
"This is yours. Do you need any help breaking the spell?"
The dragon reached out a forclaw and with a very delicate motion, plucked the stone from Mag's palm. She felt the barest scrape of talons but no pain. She couldn't help staring at Areecen, unwilling and unable to tear her gaze away.

The dragon was very long but slender and elegant. She could easily imagine him riding the wind in all his splendor, owning the skies in his flight.
//Burning the stone should sever the tie,// Areecen replied, turning to the side and placing the stone on the floor of the cave.
Drawing in a deep breath, the dragon directed a concentrated jet of fire at the stone. It burned for perhaps five seconds, then crumbled to ash in a flash of light. Areecen heaved a sigh, entire body seeming to relax.
//I feel better already...My power is flowing back into me. I will be at my full strength within a day I should think. Right now, though I must move to another location, because right now he knows where I am.//

//Hogwarts is safe and has secret passages in which you could hide for the time being,// Severus found himself suggesting.
Not particularly because he cared what happened to the dragon, but because it could help if Voldemort attacked the school again.
//HE. I am a HE! And I'm not helping any bloody humans,// the dragon thought angrily.
Drawing back his lips he showed a mouthful full of leg sized teeth.
//PLEASE, PROF! Don't POKE THE FUCKING DRAGON,// Nightshade pleaded.
//Now that is indeed a wise owl,// Areecen thought in satisfaction.

//And I don't wish to stay in a building crawling with humans who would just love to kill me in my slumber for my blood and claws and scales, but thank you kindly for the offer,// he told Severus.
Severus scowled but remained silent, not bothering to explain that no one there would harm the dragon, because he suddenly found that he didn't care.
"Where will you go," Mag asked, obvious concern in her tone.
Areecen thought for several beats.
//I have a dragon friend in Switzerland. He will likely share his cave until I can find another for myself that I am certain is far enough from humans to allow my safety.//