Harry Potter: Dragon Whisperer

Farlys' Tale

9:20am

Tuesday, 23 August 1995

Romanian Dragon Sanctuary, Romania

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Harry landed hard, wobbled, stumbled forward but miraculously, managed to stay on his feet. Looking around, he grinned at Sirius, Remus and Charlie.

"Well done, Cub, you're finally starting to get the hang of portkeys," Remus said.

Movement from the right caught his attention and he turned to see Alexander, the Reserve's Head Dragon Handler striding towards them. Accompanying him were Delilah and Antony, two other dragon handlers.

"Glad to see you're finally back," Alexander greeted them.

Harry cocked his head at the man, there was something hard about him, as though he was on edge. The fact that the other two with him kept glancing from the four of them to the top of the ridge beyond which was the great canyon where the dragons lived had Harry starting to feel as though something was wrong.

"Good to be back, Boss," Charlie said, shaking Alexander's hand.

"How'd it go? What was the problem?" Alexander asked.

Everyone suddenly looking at him had Harry realising that he was expected to answer.

"Something – a bunyip – had been getting in and stealing the dragon eggs," he replied. "It got three of the four clutches before we even got there, which was why the dragons were so on edge and not letting any of the handlers in."

"So, it was a bunyip?" Alexander asked.

"We saw it in the newspaper, that article of yours, Harry, but until we'd heard it from you, we weren't sure whether to believe it or not," Antony said.

"Believe it," Charlie stated grimly. "That thing was as mean and as ugly as anything that I've ever seen!"

"But it's gone now?" Delilah asked. "The eggs are safe?"

"Yeah, we caught it," Harry replied.

"And the dragons roasted the thing; melted the bunyip and the cage it was in to nothing but a charred mess," Sirius added grimly.

"The dragons are back to normal now," Charlie said, "so, we took the first portkey home."

"Don't forget that Harry's got an invitation to go back to watch the eggs hatch," Remus said.

"An invitation? From who?" Alexander asked.

"Dankrum, the lead dragon of the Australian weyr," Harry shrugged.

Alexander stared hard at him for a second before shaking his head. To either side of him, Antony and Delilah simply stared, both of their jaws slack.

"Has Charlie explained the significance of that?" Alexander finally asked.

"Yes, Sir," Harry replied. "And I'll be sure to take my new magical camera with me to record it."

"Omnioculars would be even better," Delilah said. "They can record the entire hatching, not just a couple of seconds at a time like a magical photograph would do."

Alexander eyed her for a moment. "Good call. Order a pair in for the lad."

"You know it's not just Harry that got that invitation," Sirius said off-handedly.

"Charlie?" Alexander asked, sounding hopeful.

"Sorry, Boss," Charlie replied with a grin. "Not one of us. Harry's girl, Daphne, is the lucky one."