Rescuing Dragons

The Japanese Water Dragon

 Raven could barely eat dinner. Charlie didn't have that problem but he was excited too. Milly and Marco were sitting together. Raven noticed Milly seemed to be doing all the talking while Marco just kept nodding his head. "Let's go down to the cottage and wait," Raven said. "Do you have more meat? I want to make sure Brae has plenty to eat before we go."

"Sure, just don't make her fat or she won't be able to fly," Charlie said with a grin.

They left the Great Hall and walked quickly down to Hagrid's cottage. The sun was getting low on the horizon. Charlie went to grab some meat while Raven waited outside with an agitated bird on her shoulder. She glanced over at Chit. "Why are you so anxious?"

The crow skittered sideways until their heads were touching. Raven heard, Monster will eat me. She looked at Chit with concern. "I would never let that happen! There is only one thestral coming and she doesn't hurt birds. I'll tell her not to harm you."

Chit relaxed a little after that, but when Brae appeared in the sky a few minutes later, she hid underneath Raven's jacket lapel. The thestral trotted confidently up to them. Raven offered her the meat and it was gone in seconds. "There's something important I need to tell you, Brae. I have a crow I'm very fond of. Please don't do anything to harm her." Raven lifted her lapel slightly so Brae could see the crow. The thestral seemed to stare at Chit for a few seconds, then lowered her head. Raven took this sign of submission as an agreement and, evidently, Chit did the same. For the first time, the crow fluttered up to Raven's shoulder in front of the thestral.

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon now and the clouds were lit up in shades of fiery red, gold and purple. A soothing chorus of katydids and crickets began to echo from the forest. After Raven cast a Disillusionment Charm on Brae and themselves, she climbed onto her back. Charlie mounted behind her and Chit ducked back under her jacket. Raven was intensely aware of Charlie's chest pressed against her back. His left arm was around her waist while his right hand stretched out to grasp the bottom of Brae's silky black mane. She looked back towards him. "Thank you for helping me with this. It means a lot."

"I'm with a beautiful witch and ridin' a thestral. What could be cooler!" Charlie said with a smile.

"Okay, Brae. Take us to the pond that has the Water Dragon in it," Raven commanded.

"Hold on!" yelled Charlie. "Thestrals are the fastest fliers in the world." Brae lifted her enormous bat-like wings and shot up into the sky. Raven couldn't decide if she was thrilled or terrified but eventually she relaxed. They were flying west which was the general direction of the pond on her father's map. She glimpsed flashes of light reflecting from the numerous ponds they flew over. There were so many she lost count. It would have taken them weeks if they had searched each pond one by one. Brae slowed down and began to descend towards a small clearing next to a brackish pond. A tiny beak and two green eyes peeked out from under Raven's jacket.

They had barely slid off Brae's back when they heard a loud, Crack! A thunderstorm poured down on them. They whipped out their wands at the same time and yelled, "Impervious Pluviam!" It was as if a large invisible umbrella appeared over their heads, blocking the rain.

"So much for surprising the dragon," Charlie said ruefully.

Brae was shuffling in a nervous way but stayed put. Raven guessed dragons might consider thestrals a convenient meal. "Brae, why don't you wait for us under the trees." She trotted off towards the forest while Raven and Charlie walked cautiously towards the pond. Chit burrowed further down into Raven's jacket. "When did my bird become such a coward?" Raven whispered to Charlie.