The Shifty One
Author’s Note: Ghost1492 this one goes to you for first suggesting it! Hope you enjoy!
***
A pillar of flames burst to life, whirling in heatless blue. It only lasted a few moments before fading away, revealing…
A sleeping lion? The large cat was easily one of the biggest things in the Great Hall, with only the tables and Hagrid being the exceptions. With tawny fur, a fluffy black main, and long sharp horns. Wait, long sharp horns? Albus looked again at the sleeping feline and realized that it did indeed have horns. Spending a bit more time examining the creature he found other discrepancies, such as bands of spiked metal around the ankles and what looked like some type of face paint on the cheeks in the form of several stripes on the cheek, and one above one eye that looks like a lightning bolt. There was also some markings over one shoulder, a dark empty circle underlined by a curved line.
Before Albus could further examine the cat, Hagrid rounded the table and made his way over to the sleepy figure. “Well, aren’t you a cuddly one!” The Groundskeeper reached out one hand towards the horns.
Just before contact was made with the horn the cat’s eyes snapped open, glowing green. The cat seemed to take one look around and sprang away, leaping over a dozen feet backwards towards one of the walls, where he (it was readily apparent the cat was male) bounced off and down along the side of the room. Putting his back to a corner of the room, those glowing eyes scanned the room before suddenly transforming to a massive bear.
The bear shared the color scheme with the cat, with the same markings on shoulders, cheeks, and over one eye. It even had the same horns. The metal on the ankles had moved to around what would be the elbow though.
Hagrid gave out another happy sigh. However, before the big man could move, the Headmaster stepped in front of him. “I’m sorry, my friend. Perhaps now is not the time for your fascination with all things monstrous and cuddly. This obviously is not an ordinary creature, not if it can shapeshift like that.”
Several other teachers moved up to stand beside the Headmaster, as well as some of the students, though most (at least those who weren’t closest to the creature) of the rest of the students were trying to get a look at the new arrival. One of the young muggleborn even had their camera out and took a picture.
The flash of light seemed to catch the creature's attention, as their head whipped over towards the young man. Before it could lunge forward and maul the poor child, Albus sent a stunner towards the bear. The red spell splashed against the side of the creature.
The transformed bear slumped slightly before shaking his head and shifting the attention back to the Headmaster. Those green eyes narrowed before he shifted again, back into the cat form, then dashed away, almost faster than Dumbledore could track.
Several spells were cast at the darting figure, though none came close, especially as the cat had darted down between the tables. Students were jumping out of the way, climbing over the tables. The cat seemed to have other priorities though as it scrambled towards the door.
The Headmaster quickly cast a spell at the doors, securing them against opening. The cat crashed paws first against the door, only to bounce off. With a hiss, the cat whirled around again, this time facing Albus for just a moment. Those glowing eyes bored into his and for a moment Dumbledore could have sworn he felt a pressure against his mental defenses, only for the cat to turn away and seemingly vanish.
The students had fled away from the creature, flocking to the protection of the Professors. Some of the Professors waded into that mess, trying to calm students while keeping an eye out for the intruder. Filius had mounted one of the steps, his eyes concentrated on where the cat had vanished. A moment later and a spell Albus didn’t recognize shot out.
A low mist swept out from the door, seeping around the room. When it reached one empty corner it seemed to linger on a shape there. Several more spells immediately shot out, fortunately mostly stunners. Albus was quick to shield the only spell that appeared dangerous.
The cat form for the new arrival faded back into sight, this time slumped on the floor, very similar to how it had arrived, save for the pillar of flames. Suddenly, the creature shifted again, this time into the form of a young man, still asleep, with dark, wild hair, a tan, and some definite musculature. He was dressed in a leather smock over leather pants.
Madam Pomfrey was the first one to reach the young man, casting diagnostic spells even before making it to his side. As Albus joined her, accompanied by the other Professors (except for those who had taken to organizing the students), Poppy was turning the boy over to get a better look at him. A familiar looking scar starred up at the Headmaster. He heard a gasp from his Deputy. “Harry?”
Dumbledor looked closely at the young man and managed to suppress a grin. It looked like the spells on the Goblet had worked, though there was obviously much more to the boy than just being the lost Potter. Two animagus forms and being able to perform a disillusionment while in one of those forms. There had to be quite the story behind all that.
After helping organize the rest of the Professors, Albus joined Poppy in levitating Harry down to the infirmary and binding the young man into the bed, along with an immobilization spell. Couldn’t have him running off again. They had a lot to talk about, after all.
***
Harry groaned as he slowly regained consciousness. That had been a trippy dream. He’d been stuck in an Alliance fortress with a bunch of strange mages. Trying to sit up, he found himself restrained. Blinking open his eyes, he winced slightly at the headache though at least he didn’t appear to be injured.
Looking down at his body, he couldn’t spot any of the restraints. No ropes or chains. Just a blanket. How tightly had he been tucked in? This also didn’t appear to be anywhere he recognized. Glancing around with what little movement he could do with his head, he took in the setting. It appeared to be human construction, the heavy stone influence one he only remembered from the fortresses he’d seen on Kalimdor.
The room looked more like an infirmary than any type of security station he was aware of. That either meant there wasn’t going to be torture, or it was going to be the type of torture that required healing afterwards or during. Given the current tenuous peace between the Horde and Alliance, Harry was really hoping it was the former.
Turning his head slightly, he caught sight of what could only be the archmage in charge of the fortress. The man was dressed in an eye watering robe and hat and sported a rather impressive beard, tucked into his belt.
The archmage offered Harry a smile that would have been reassuring had the situation not been as it was. Instead it felt rather condescending. “Ah Harry, so good of you to join us. I hope you are feeling rested. You had quite the rough arrival.”
Harry frowned. “I wasn’t aware that my name was known to the Alliance. I don’t much leave Mulgor except to travel to Orgrimmar.”
The archmage shook his head. “I’m afraid I’m not aware of those places. As for you, Harry, I have known you since you were born and your parents almost their entire lives as well.”
Harry blinked and stared at the old human. Sighing, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Things were not as they appeared. His adopted father would not appreciate him being so hasty. He chalked it up to his waking up in what he thought was enemy territory. Now was the time for contemplation and negotiation.
“All of my life I have wondered where I came from. If you could shed some light on my origins, that would be much appreciated, Archmage. May I get your name please and if possible, could I be released from my restraints? It’s quite uncomfortable turning my head like this.”
The archmage blinked before nodding slowly. “If I release you, my boy, you promise you won’t shift into your animagus form and run off again? You gave us quite the scare last night.”
Harry nodded and suddenly felt himself released. Slowly, he sat up and scooted back to rest against the head of the bed. He nodded his thanks again and stretched slowly, working the kinks from his shoulders. For a brief moment he had been tempted to shift into cat form and stealth away, but then remembered that that hadn’t worked out last night either. They must have had a hunter or some other sensor in the area.
“Thank you, archmage. I promise to behave while we have our discussion.”
Once again the archmage blinked before nodding, the smile still on his lips. “Thank you for you promise, my boy. I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where we find ourselves today. I am a Wizard, and while I have many titles, Archmage is not one of them. It is not a title I have heard in many a year and none today carry it to my knowledge.”
Harry frowned but decided not to comment on it. He filed away the strange names for later. “Do you know how I got here, Headmaster?”
Dumbledore shook his head. “While I am not aware of the circumstances behind your arrival, I can tell you that you were summoned by the Goblet of Fire, a powerful artifact that was tasked with choosing the Champions for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. By summoning you, the Goblet has in fact bound you to compete in the Tournament.” The man raised a hand to wave away any comment Harry might have made.
“We will discuss more on the Tournament later. For now, we should talk about where you have been. The last you were seen you had been left with your relatives after the tragic passing of your parents. That was nearly fourteen years ago. Do you know what happened?”
The young man shook his head. “I don’t remember any of that, Headmaster, though I can relay to you what my adopted father has told me. While he was travelling the Emerald Dream, the world that lies alongside ours, he came upon a child in a basket. Not one to abandon a child, even a human one, he took me home with him to Thunderbluff. After making inquiries into any missing children with the ambassadors of the Alliance, and being unable to find any that would take me in, he decided to raise me as his own. Thus I have been raised among the Tauren people for these past fifteen years.”
“I beg your pardon. Did you say fifteen years?”
Harry nodded. “I noticed the time difference myself. I suppose that like the Emerald Dream, this is yet another world that parallels my own.”
“My dear boy, this world would be your own. I’m not sure where you think you have been this whole time, but there is only the one world.”
“As a magic user, how can you think that? Surely you’ve studied about the other worlds, or at least seen the records of the various travelers that have visited Azeroth?”
The Headmaster shook his head, the smile changing to one that Harry definitely felt was condescending. “This world is called Earth, not Azeroth. I’m not sure what type of education you may have received with these Tauren people you were raised with, but it seems to have been quite lacking. No worries, we will get you all caught up here at Hogwarts.”
Harry’s frown deepened. “I mean no disrespect, Headmaster, but I’ve personally seen visitors from other worlds. Many of the members of the Horde came from other worlds, such as Draenor. The demons we’ve fought have come from any number of different worlds. To say those other worlds do not exist would be to cheapen their sacrifices.”
Again the Headmaster just offered that same smile. “My dear boy, we shall address that another time. Instead, I shall inform you of what has happened with your summoning. As I said earlier, the Goblet has bound you to compete in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. I’ll have one of the elves get you a copy of the rulebook, but know that the consequence for failing to compete would be to have the magic stripped from your body.” A shudder ran through the man before he continued.
“As Hogwarts is the hosting school, and your parents having signed your name into the rolls of the school since before you were born, it is only fitting that we provide your lodging and education. Your parents had also set up a fund to help pay for your schooling, so no need to worry there. I’m sure that once we can get you in to see the Goblins they’ll be able to get your access to your Vault restored quickly.”
“You tell me this isn’t Azeroth, and yet you have elves and Goblins. Next you’ll tell me you have orcs and trolls and insist this isn’t the world that I knew.”
Dumbledore shook his head. “While we do have trolls, we do not have orcs. Again, we shall have to address this alarming error in your education, but I shall leave that to your Professors. I must return to my office and deal with the paperwork of getting you settled in. Once Poppy has cleared your health, an elf will show you to your temporary lodgings until we can get you sorted into a house.”
Before Harry could ask any further questions, the man stood and strode from the room. Harry watched his back vanish through the door with a frown. That man was hiding something, probably lots of somethings. He turned to the human who came into the area, waving around a wand and muttering to herself. It wasn’t long though before she declared him healthy and safe for release.
A slight pop of air heralded a short person, even shorter than the gnomes of the Alliance. Harry was introduced to the house elf (and wouldn’t the elves of home love to know that this was the local version) and directed to an unused guest room.
Once the elf had left and returned with food, then left again, Harry took a moment to check himself over. While he felt fine, he wanted to make sure. Nothing felt out of place, other than feeling generally off from being in a strange land with strange humans.
Kneeling in the entryway of the guest room, Harry tried to connect to the Emerald Dream. He frowned when he wasn’t able to reach across the boundary between worlds. Normally it wouldn’t matter what world he was on, whether Azeroth or Draenor, yet here he must be much further afield than he originally thought.
Just what had these humans done to him?
***
Harry woke up and stretched, digging his claws into a groove in the stone floor. He was much more comfortable sleeping in cat form on the floor than he was in the thing the humans called a bed. Far too soft.
Padding around the room, he quickly familiarized himself with the scents before shifting back into human form. There was a feeling to the air, as if statically charged. It reminded him of places like Dalaran where many of the mages of the worlds gathered for their research and whatnot. While not quite enough to raise his hair on ends, he felt it was a near thing.
A small shiver escaped him as he thought about some of the encounters he’d had with mages over the years. Some of the orcs and trolls he’d encountered had considered themselves pranksters and liked to use polymorph at the drop of a hat. Harry hadn’t appreciated that and they hadn’t appreciated the mauling he’d given them afterwards. Fortunately switching forms negated any transformation magic.
There was a soft knock at the door. For a moment Harry considered ignoring it. However, he was ignorant of this world and reliant upon the humans for assistance. If what the Headmaster had said the night before was true, he was stuck in this world until he could figure out how to overcome whatever magic was blocking him from the Dream. That or until his father and allies could find a way to either summon him back or come and get him. Maybe he would luck out and the Warlocks could simply summon him back.
Another knock at the door broke him from those thoughts and he made his way over. Opening the door revealed a human far shorter than any other he’d seen before. He was nearly the size of a goblin, though didn’t share their body characteristics.
“Greetings, Mr. Potter. My name is Filius Flitwick and I am one of the Professors here at Hogwarts.” The older gentleman offered a slight bow, which Harry returned.
“I go by Runetotem if you must use a family name. Otherwise just Harry will do.”
“Very well, Harry. I’m here to accompany you to Diagon Alley, where we shall visit Gringotts Bank and inquire into your family finances. Afterward, we will journey to Olivanders to obtain for you a wand, if you do not already have one.”
Harry nodded slowly. “And if I am not from this world, what shall we do? We have only the Headmaster’s assurances.”
Flitwick offered Harry a smile. “A reasonable question. I can tell you this. That you greatly resemble your parents. I was quite close with your mother, Lily Potter. You share her eyes. As for your father, he was a person of renown in our society and one of my dear students, though he closer to Professor McGonnagall, and as I say, you greatly resemble him as a student. Were you wearing glasses, you would be the spitting image.”
The displaced young man frowned slightly before nodding. “Then we shall operate under the premise that I am indeed the Harry Potter you think me to be, as all evidence points it to be. As for a wand, while I can wield them, I am much more comfortable with a staff.” Reaching into his inventory, he pulled out his favorite staff. It stood taller than him, capped with what appeared to be a type of deer head with glowing greens eyes much like his own, an antler rack that was fused together into one massive rack that was topped with a numerous charms dangling from leather ties. The staff was also wrapped in leather, with more bone adornments at the bottom.
The short Professor’s eyes widened at seeing the casual way that Harry had summoned the staff, as well as the nature of the staff itself. There was a feeling of power emanating from what was clearly an artifact of some kind. “Are you telling me you can cast spells with that staff? That’s an ability that hasn’t been practiced in many years here.”
Harry shook his head. “I do not cast spells through the staff. It merely amplifies the magic that I cast myself.”
Flitwick reached towards the staff for a moment before restraining himself with a shake of his head. “I’m beginning to think that we’re talking about two different types of magic. Why don’t we share a bit about what we think spellcasting involves while we head to the Headmaster’s office to use the flue there.”
“What’s a flue?”
***
The trip to Diagon Alley had been interesting for a number of reasons. First was traveling through the flue. It was awful. Nothing like traveling through a portal. Had he not been as experienced in jarring travel from his various forms he would have had a rather embarrassing arrival at Gringots.
Gringotts had been another educational experience. The local Goblins shared many traits with the ones that had joined the Horde. Their love of business, their warrior like nature, and general physical appearance. However, these ones seemed to have leaned more into the business side of the things and less of the mechanical terror… er, engineering marvels of Azeroth. Harry had to admit that he preferred the local variety, as he was less likely to encounter something that randomly exploded.
They did respond to many of the same attitudes though. Respect for respect. Business taken seriously.
Things moved swiftly once they were able to ascertain that Harry was indeed the Potter Heir. Harry hadn’t felt nearly prepared to accept control of the finances that appeared to be at his command and had commissioned the Goblins to do an accounting and name a Finance Manager. They had also provided, at a cost, a book on the basics of the Wizarding World as they called things.
The rest of the trip through had been unremarkable before arriving at the Wand Makers, other than the conversation about the differences between their understandings of Magic. Most wizards needed a focus to properly control and channel their spells. It seemed like a crutch to Harry, though he didn’t admit as such to the Professor. Harry in turn talked about communing with the Earth Mother, the ability to shift between his various forms, as the magic that he was able to call upon.
While Harry had never had a chance to study any of the arcane magic of Azeroth, he was at least aware of them. Some of the things that had been exhibited by the wizards seemed just as fantastic, if in different methods. He was looking forward to discovering more about the local variety.
Before they had arrived at Olivander’s, Harry had inquired into the local enclave for Druids, only to be dismayed to learn that druids had disappeared from these lands many years ago. Maybe that explained why he hadn’t been able to reach the Dream, as it was untended. He made a mental note to redouble his efforts to reach the Dream. Even if he was the only druid who would be doing so.
The Wand Maker had been the final stop on the trip and for that Harry had been grateful. The man was exhausting and finding the right wand had taken quite a while. Much different from picking from the ones on display and asking what types of enchantments they had on them. Apparently a wand was much more personal for a wizard.
Eventually they had settled on one of holly with a phoenix core. The story behind the wand had been interesting, as its brother wand had been the one to give him his scar, according to the old man. There was certainly more to that story, but Harry hadn’t been able to get any more information from Olivander before Professor Flitwick had directed them back to Hogwarts.
Upon returning, the Professor had guided Harry to an empty classroom and given him a rough introduction to wanded magic, as well as presented him with a number of books about wizarding magic. Flitwick also gave him a list of books to check out in the Library, as well as the names of several students that could help him as tutors. With the gold that was now available to him, hiring the students should be trivial.
Settling into the entryway of his suite, Harry rolled the wand between his fingers, looking between it and the staff that he held in his other hand. They both felt like magic to him, connected in different ways. Harry didn’t see himself relying on just one or the other. He would use the wand to learn the local magic then see if he couldn’t get the same results with the staff. Or perhaps find a way to bond the two together.
As another day came to a close in a strange new world, Harry wondered what was happening back in Thunderbluff and if his father was missing him yet. It was unlikely, as Harry had been known to travel through Mulgor in his various forms for journeys that could last for days.
Hopefully before it became too long his father would move forward with looking for him. Until then, Harry would work to master wand magic, deal with this Tri-Wizard Tournament, and try to get over the feeling of nervousness he got from being in a fortress manned almost entirely by humans.
***
It was a novel feeling, finding out that there were books about one's exploits. Especially when Harry couldn’t recall having ever done any of the things the books were purporting him to have done. Some of the other students had revealed that they’d read the books as children and asked if there was any truth to them. He replied that he would love to meet both the people who had written the books and the person who the books was about, as it certainly wasn’t him. The young man, this Boy Who Lived, was clearly a legendary figure possessing incredible skills.
That didn’t keep people from coming up to him all the time and asking for autographs (and wasn’t that a strange feeling) or asking about his animagus forms. While he wasn’t sure what an animagus was, he had been happy to talk about the druids of Thunderbluff, about his father, Hamuul Runetotem, and growing up as the only human among the massive Taurens. Eventually he learned about animagus from Professor McGonnagall, who taught him one of the most useful types of magic he had ever heard of, Transfiguration.
While many didn’t believe him about the Taurens, they at least accepted that he hadn’t grown up locally, and were willing to help him with his studies. One student in particular was always happen to listen to him talk about Azeroth and the various flora and fauna. The petite blond had a unique view of the world around it and he was just as fascinated with her stories as she was with his.
Harry did try to combine some of the teachings from Azeroth with that of Hogwarts. What he really wanted to do was learn more forms for shifting. He had been rather disappointed to learn that the animagus ability only allowed transformation to one form and that one didn’t even get to pick the form. Unfortunately, whatever connection he had with the Dream that enabled him to shapeshift also prevented him from achieving an animagus form. He was never able to see his inner animal when using the potion or with any of the meditation techniques that were presented to him.
One of the hardest things to get used to though, was not going around all the time in cat form. Back home he would usually be in cat form to get around Thunderbluff. He was much faster and stronger and able to get around some of the vertical structures around the city. The humans of Hogwarts, however, had one of two reactions, both annoying. Either run away screaming, which hurt his ears but was at least tolerable. Or trying to pet and cuddle with him.
Harry didn’t mind the petting, if he was being honest with himself. Luna in particular knew just where he liked to be scratched behind his ears and on the back of his neck. It was people trying to hang on him. Sure his cat form was big enough to ride but that didn’t make him a mount.
Other than those few annoyances though, life in Hogwarts was relatively peaceful. He got to study and learn a new form of magic. He got to learn about his family, though he had yet to meet any of his more distant relatives that were said to be alive.
Then he found the dragons.
Or at least what the humans called dragons. Fortunately, they didn’t appear nearly as big or intelligent as any of the various dragon flights of Azeroth. Unfortunately, they were just as big as drakes and breathed fire.
Harry had found them while he was out running through the Forbidden Forest. It was the only place big enough locally that he could run without being followed. Plus the local wildlife reminded him of home. The centaurs were much more relaxed than the ones on Kalimdor and he had many enlightening conversations about astrology. Even the spiders were familiar, though he tended to avoid those unless he needed to vent on something. He felt bad taking out his frustrations on the poor things… at least until they tried to eat him then they were free game. For the most part though they had an understanding.
When he found the dragons in the clearing, he had also found a bunch of humans that seemed to be in charge of taking care of them. Those humans didn’t abuse their charges, so Harry had been willing to leave them alone. It wasn’t in his nature to start a fight after all. He did confront one of the humans, after shifting back into human form.
The man identified himself as Charlie Weasley and explained that he was a dragon handler. The job fascinated Harry and he spent a few hours talking to Charlie about the care of dragons and their role in Wizarding Society. Learning that many of the dragons had become endangered due to overhunting had been eye opening. It was also the first time that Harry had realized that the wizards were hiding away from the rest of the world.
While learning about the dragons had been interesting, especially considering the timing of their arrival, meaning they were to be part of the Tournament in some matter, it was the fact that the wizards kept themselves apart from the rest of the world that was the biggest revelation.
Up until that point Harry had assumed that Hogwarts was just a small part of the regular world, alongside the other two schools that were part of the tournament. It had never occurred to him that the rest of the world wasn’t the same, just like Azeroth. Magic was a part of the world there and nothing in the way that the wizards carried themselves told him that they kept themselves apart. Sure there had been hints every now and again but nothing that was in your face about it.
Back at Hogwarts Harry climbed to the top of the tallest tower and looked out over the horizon. Dragons kept apart because they were hunted and to protect the secret of magic. An entire society hidden away because of fear. What must have happened in the past to drive the wizards to cut themselves off from the rest of the world? What was the rest of the world like, without magic?
Harry tried to imagine a society where he would have to hide who he was, where he wasn’t allowed to use magic. Where he couldn’t be a druid and connect with nature or the Emerald Dream. How did the rest of the humans of this world live?
By the time of the first task he still hadn’t found any answers to his questions. Spending time in the library showed a lack of information about the outside world and only a few of the students called muggleborns, due to not having magical parents, were willing to talk about their lives. Most of them didn’t know why the distinction between the worlds existed. Some were at least willing to talk about things in the non-magical world and Harry found himself fascinated by how similar it seemed to be to the areas of Azeroth controlled by the goblins, with their machines everywhere.
Standing in the tent waiting for the first task to start, Harry thought about just how strange this world was compared to Azeroth. Only humans were allowed to learn magic and non-humans were looked down upon. Even humans who didn’t have magic were looked down upon by some. Shaking away those thoughts, he focused on the task, listening as the man explained what they were to do with their dragons. Retrieving a golden egg from a nesting mother sounded like a challenge.
By the time Harry got to select his dragon, there had only been one left. The Hungarian Horntail was reputed to be one of the nastier of the lot, but his conversation with Charlie had given him some insights. Plus he’d been able to learn a lot more about dragons in those days. He focused on backup strategies, but he hoped his original plan would work.
Once it was time, Harry took a deep breath, calming himself and calling upon the Earth Mother to guide him. While he wasn’t on Azeroth, he knew that there was a spirit here on Earth that fulfilled the same role. Calling upon her guidance couldn’t hurt.
Stepping into the rock strewn arena, he immediately focused on the dragon crouched over the nest on the other side of the area. She looked even more formidable without the cage limiting her movements. Even with that chain around one leg, the dragon looked to have more than enough maneuverability to deal with.
Moving to the middle of the arena, Harry made sure to maintain eye contact with the dragon before offering a low bow. His voice hissed out in the draconian language of Azeroth. “I come in peace, Great One.”
The dragon narrowed her eyes before nodding, “Why are you here, human? Why have the humans brought me to this place?”
Harry suppressed a smile at hearing the response. That the dragon spoke draconian and in an accent he could understand was fantastic. He hadn’t been sure, having not had a chance to test it while talking with Charlie, but he had hoped.
“The humans brought you here to be a challenge for a contest of skill. I am to retrieve the golden egg in your nest and return. Once that is done you will be returned to your home.”
The dragon turned to cast one eye on her egg while keeping the other on Harry. Returning her attention to Harry, she bobbed her head. “I see the false egg. What will you give me in exchange for this egg?”
Harry blinked in surprise. “Can’t I just take it so you can return home?”
What sounded suspiciously like a laugh escaped the dragon. “Why should I do your work for you, little human, what I can make a profit over it instead? Now, what will you give me for the egg, or will you challenge me?” She suddenly reared back her head, wings spread wide behind her.
“I, uh, don’t have much. I’m a stranger in this land, just as you are. I was brought here against my will and force into this competition, just like you!”
Another laugh escaped the dragon. “That we are both forced to be here does not change the fact that I have what you want. Either offer me something in trade or fight me. The strong rule this world, little human. You humans keep us dragons under control with your spells and your numbers. Unless I am to profit from this exchange, I will take what little revenge I can from your kind.”
The dragon crouched down, a malevolent look in her eyes that Harry decided he really didn’t like. She reminded him of the rumors he had heard of some of the dragonkin that had gone corrupt over the years.
“I have nothing to offer you, great one. I ask for a favor to be returned at a later time.”
The dragon answered with a gout of flame that had Harry dodging out of the way. A quick shift into cat form let him dart behind some boulders and then bound further away. He really wished he had a party with him. He was used to working in a group and while he could fight on his own, he didn’t think it would be enough for this fight.
Stealthing, he crept through the shadows towards the nest. Unfortunately, with the way the dragon was crouched over the nest there was no way to sneak past to the eggs.
Shifting to bear form, he charged forwards, managing to crash into the side of the dragon and swipe at her head before she could respond. The dragon hissed as her head snapped aside, answering with a swipe of her wing that nearly sent him stumbling. Rearing up, he brought both front paws smashing down on the top of her head, managing to slam it down on the ground for a moment before the other wing came crashing in and sending Harry tumbling across the arena.
Only a hasty shift back into cat form let him dodge the blast of fire. He felt his fur crisp slightly from the near miss and had to shift back to human form to cast a regrowth on himself. It also let him throw some offensive magic at the dragon, moonfire lancing down from the sky. Pulling his wand from inventory, he utilized his new favorite magic to transfigure a bunch of smaller stone versions of his cat form and animate them to swarm over the dragon.
The animations didn’t last long, but they lasted long enough for him to crash back into the fight in bear form, this time leaping onto the dragon’s back and attempting to wrap his claws around her neck. She responded by rolling onto her back and nearly pinning him in place, bruising his ribs against the rocks before he could shift and squirm away.
Fortunately the regrowth allowed him to stay in the fight. Bouncing off the arena walls in cat form, he bounded claws first into the dragon’s face, then realized just how terrible that plan had been as she opened her mouth and unleashed flame.
Only an instinctive shift into bear form and the magical resistance of the form allowed him to survive the attack. Thankfully it blasted him back across the arena. The dragon tried to chase after him only to find herself restrained by the chain around her leg. Her cursing lit the air.
Harry shambled back towards the tent, limping and holding one paw close to his body. Leaning down, he picked up the golden egg from where it was carried by one of his stone animations. He turned to show the dragon the egg, who continued to curse.
Shifting to human form, Harry practically collapsed through the tent entrance.
***
Harry woke up with a start. His mouth tasted foul, like he’d had some bad noggenfogger potion. Looking around, he found he was in the Hogwarts infirmary for the second time. Closing his eyes, he sent his focus inwards, checking his injuries. He was surprised to find everything the way it was supposed to be. Say what you would for the wizards, their healing magic seemed to be potent enough.
Madam Pomfrey bustled in, waving her wand. Harry watched her for a moment before dismissing her to go over the fight in his mind. Negotiations had broken down with the dragon and he’d had to fight. Nothing he had done was wrong, per se, but he wasn’t exactly sure how he could have done better. Other than not getting into a fight alone against a dragon in the first place.
When Madam Pomfrey confirmed his clean bill of health, he stood to leave, only to find the Headmaster striding into the room. “Harry, my boy, you didn’t tell me you could talk to dragons.”
“To be fair, Headmaster, I didn’t know that I could until I tried. The dragons here are a bit different than the dragons back home, but they’re both intelligent enough to communicate.”
Dumbledore smiled and clasped his hands in front of him. “You haven’t come to see me since you arrived. I would have loved to have learned about the world you found yourself in. As well as talk more about your role here at Hogwarts.”
Harry frowned. “Why would I come to see you? Have you made progress with discovering who summoned me?”
The grandfatherly look of disappointment was one Harry had never seen on a human, though it resembled one Hamuul would make from time to time, especially when Harry disappeared on one of his little jaunts. “Why would I look into that? You’re home where you belong and that was all as far as I’m concerned. You’ll learn that this is the best place for you, my boy. Never fear. Now, unless you have anything more you’d like to tell me, I must be off.”
The stare that Harry gave the man should have weighed upon his soul, but the Headmaster merely ignored it with a smile and a pat on one blanket covered leg.
Harry continued to stare as the man left the room. Definitely hiding something. The fact that he wasn’t even looking into the reason for Harry’s summoning said a lot of things. Either the man was involved, or he truly didn’t care and was only concerned for Harry being around.
From what Harry had head, the Headmaster was supposed to be the leader of the Light, a meaning completely different from the more religious order back on Azeroth, and meant that the man was responsible for leading against the forces of Darkness.
Not that Harry had seen any forces of darkness, other than perhaps the spiders of the Forbidden Forest. The war that had cost him his parents had ended at the same time. There was no external threat at works, at least none that was making itself known at Hogwarts. The biggest concern for the students here was the Tournament and school.
Throwing aside the blanket, Harry stood from the bed and made his way back to his room. Along the way he encountered several students who made inquiries into his health. He wasn’t close to many of them, but the few he did consider friends he made sure to assure them he was fine.
Once back in his room, he shifted into cat form and laid down next to the bed, thinking. It was now even more imperative that he find a way back to the Dream. He needed to contact his father. Unfortunately, he knew of no way to pierce the veil.
Perhaps combining the magic of home and the magic of Hogwarts would find a way.
On the nightstand back in the infirmary, the golden egg stood forgotten.
***
Harry slowly closed the book and leaned back, thoughtful. Ritual magic was both similar and different from the magic of the same name back on Azeroth. While on Azeroth it was formulaic and mathematical, for Wizards there was an element of intent and will that backed the formula.
From what he had been able to piece together, he could make a ritual that would help him to pierce the veil keeping him from the Emerald Dream. It would need to be performed on the Winter Solstice, when the distance between the world and twilight world was at its thinnest. More importantly though, he would need help in the ritual. Several people were needed to properly conduct the ritual. Either three or seven would be the most important amount.
Harry went in search of Luna. Perhaps she would be willing to help and would know of others who could help.
***
On the night of the Solstice, Harry gathered with Luna and five people who were eager to see the ritual completed. That they were all female was something he wasn’t trying to think about. Especially as the ritual would require them to be skyclad.
He hadn’t realized that would be one of the requirements when he originally asked Luna to participate, but she had quickly pointed out that the druids of old performed many of their rituals the same way. Trusting the native, he agreed, though he stated he would be in cat form to put him closer to the Dream, since he had originally found his cat form through the Dream. That let him more easily ignore the other people in the ritual. At least he hoped.
Midway through the ritual he felt a tug on his consciousness and suddenly found himself in the Emerald Dream. The massive draconian form of Ysera, Aspect of the Green Dragonflight, looked down on him. Standing next to her was the form of his adopted father, the Tauren Hamuul Runetotem.
Harry rushed his father and wrapped him in a hug, barely able to reach around the archdruid. Hamuul rested one hand on Harry’s back and another on the top of his head. “Oh my son, how we’ve missed you.”
For a moment Harry reveled in the feel of his father’s fur against his cheek and the weight of his hand on his head. He had felt so alone in this world of humans, even though he had a few friends. Even though he was human himself. He had never really felt that he belonged at Hogwarts, still viewing everyone as members of the Alliance even after accepting that he was on another world.
“Father, I’ve missed you. I’ve missed everyone so much.”
Hamuul gave Harry another pat on the back before stepping back and looking down at his son. “We have sought you through the Dream for many months now. It has only been through the help of Ysera and other members of the Cenarion Circle that we were able to find your spirit. You have been hidden away from our sight until now. Whatever it is that you have done to pierce the veil, know that we are now able to reach out and communicate.”
Harry frowned. “Only communicate? Can you not return me to Azeroth?”
The massive green dragon spoke in his mind. “I am afraid not, Harry Runetotem. The magic which drew you from Azeroth binds you still. I can feel it resting on your soul. However, just because we cannot bring you home does not mean you will leave here empty handed.”
A small ball of green light floated from behind the Dragon Aspect and moved to hover in front of Harry. “Take this little one with you. She will help you on your journey until you defeat whatever it is that binds you to that world. Once you have severed that connection, we will be able to return you to where you belong.”
Harry smiled and moved to wrap a hug around Ysera’s leg. “Thank you, Great One. I shall remember this always. Once I am home, I shall dedicate myself to preserving the Dream.”
Ysera bowed her head. Hamuul offered Harry a smile as well before they all faded from the Dream.
Back in the waking world, Harry slowly opened his eyes to find his companions dressed and staring at something next to him. Turning, he found a green dragon whelp sitting on the ground, looking up at him.
“Well now, that’s quite the thing, isn’t it.”