A Rider's Legacy

Chapter 13:
 
Harry woke the next morning as he usually did, just as the sun was rising. He got up and stretched silently, not surprised to find that his four dorm-mates were still asleep. He quietly got dressed and left the dormitory. He had a headache, perhaps from him banging his head against the table so much the night before. But he did not care. He had suffered worse pain.
He was hoping to be able to get some physical exercise in before breakfast. Though at the academy they usually ate breakfast before anything else, he believed that there would not be enough time between the first meal of the day and the first lesson for any physical exercise. He really had to figure out when he could continue with his extra training, however, he knew that he could not until he got his new class timetable that morning.
He had just entered the common-room when he spotted someone sitting in one of the chairs near the fire. In the dying embers of the fire and the light of the sun just peaking through the window, he recognised Hermione, her face as usual, berried in a book.
"Morning Hermione." He called.
She ignored him.
"Errr, Hermione?" He asked hesitantly.
Suddenly, she did something that Harry never thought she would do. She threw the book against the wall.
"What the..." He began in shock.
He walked over to the book and picked it up. After reading the cover, he discovered that it was in fact, one of Hermione's favourite books, "Hogwarts, a history".
"Okay, who are you, and what have you done with Hermione?" He asked, attempting to sound funny to hide his rising concern. Something really must have made her very angry.
"Nowhere." She said through gritted teeth. "Nowhere in "Hogwarts, a history", does it say they use house-elves."
"Oh." He said in realization. "You're still upset about that?"
"Upset? Of course I'm upset. For the last three years we've been living off of slave labour." She retorted.
Harry walked over and sat in the chair opposite her.
"Hermione, look, I get where you're coming from. I mean, I know what it's like to be treated like a house-elf. And I really hate how Dobby was treated by the Malfoys and how Winky was treated by Crouch, but..."
"Well, why aren't you taking this more seriously?" She demanded.
Harry sighed.
"I am. Before, I might not have. But after this summer, I have seen another kind of elf. I've trained with them, eaten with them, I have a friend who's one. I don't know the connection between the two kinds, if they're the same species or different. But that's the thing, isn't it? We don't know anything about  house-elves. Do you think, that before you start some sort of house-elf revolution, you could at least try to do some more research into the matter? I mean, come on, you're the smartest person I know. Surely you of all people could unravel this mystery."
"I..." Hermione began. She then sighed. "I'm sorry. I might have overreacted. It's just... When I was a kid I was always the outsider. No one wanted to play with the bookworm. They would always make fun of me for my love of reading. And I... I always felt different because of that. Well, that and because of the strange power I later learnt was magic. When I first learnt I was a witch... I thought that... That maybe I could finally belong somewhere."
Harry smiled bitterly.
"And let me guess, no such luck."
She shook her head.
"No, and worse. I was still an outsider, all because I didn't have any magical family."
Harry lent forward and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah, I get it. All my life I was told I was a good-for-nothing freak, a waste of space. When I found out I was a wizard, I thought that I had finally found somewhere where I wasn't a freak. But then, it turns out I'm famous for doing something when I was a baby, and that these people changed their minds at the drop of a hat. So I was yet again an outsider, a waste of space..."
"I don't think you're a waste of space." Hermione said quietly.
Harry smiled.
"Thanks."
Hermione sighed.
"I guess my point is that... That when I saw how Crouch treated Winky, and when I put it together with what I heard about Dobby, I guess I compared it to my situation and... Overreacted. I mean, not only do they discriminate against people with non-magical families, but they use innocent beings with thoughts and feelings like slaves."
She sighed.
"I mean, I expected it from people like the Malfoys, but Hogwarts?"
Harry shook his head.
"We've got to remember that not all of the founders, if any, were saints. I mean, giant freaking snake under the school anyone?"
Hermione chuckled.
"Yeah, I guess you have a point."
Harry then got up.
"Well, I was just leaving."
He headed for the portrait hole, and Hermione followed him.
"Where are you going so early?" She asked.
"Out for some morning exercise." He replied. "Usually I do it after breakfast, but seeing as I now most likely have a full day of lessons, I'll have to organize something around my class schedule once I get it."
"Can I watch?" She asked.
Harry shrugged.
"Sure, if you want to."
They walked through the halls of Hogwarts in silence. Harry thought that the castle seemed nicer, without people running around and with the moving portraits just waking up. It almost seemed like he could imagine himself one thousand years ago, when the school was first founded.
Soon, they reached the great double doors leading to the grounds, without bumping into anyone. They walked into the early morning light and Harry turned to his friend. Before he could speak, however, she gasped.
"What?" He asked, concerned.
"Harry, your head."
She placed a hand on his forehead, right where he knew there was a bruise.
"Oh that, it's nothing." He said, smiling.
"Nothing! Harry, it's a bruise that takes up half of your forehead." She retorted.
Harry shrugged.
"Don't worry, I got that from banging my head against the table last night."
Hermione frowned.
"I knew you would get hurt from that." She said.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." Harry replied.
He began to walk to the lake, intending to run laps around it. Hermione followed.
"You really shouldn't have done it, you could have suffered serious brain trauma."
Harry chuckled.
"Believe me, that was nothing. One time, Dudley tripped me and I fell down the stairs. Still not sure how I survived that one, or how the Dursleys didn't get into trouble for it. I guess they said it was an accident. At least they had the decency to put me in the hospital."
Hermione frowned.
"That is not comforting." She retorted.
Harry shrugged as they reached the lake.
"And in my defense, I had good reason to."
"No, you didn't." Hermione retorted. "Honestly, you have nothing to worry about from this tournament."
"That's what you think." Harry replied. "But even my Father agrees that I have to be careful with this."
"Well, errr..." Hermione began, at a loss for words.
"Well, I better get running." Harry said as he finished some quick stretches. He then began to take off his robe and dropped it on the ground.
 
Harry had ran around the lake about five times. He could feel his heart beating and his breath was heavier. The sun was just above the horizon and he estimated that it was about 7:00 a.m. He decided to stop, as he didn't want to completely exhaust himself before the day began. He ran back to where Hermione  was waiting with his discarded robe.
"Wow, you were fast." She commented.
"Thanks." Harry panted.
He looked down at his robe, and decided that at that moment he was much too hot to wear it. In fact, he thought that, just for a few seconds, he should take his shirt off, just to cool down a little.
"Harry, what are you doing?"
Just as he had taken off his shirt, he looked around to see Hermione, her eyes wide and her face slightly pink.
"Just taking my shirt off." He replied. "I'm a little hot. Hope you don't mind."
"Well, I... Errr..." Hermione stuttered.
He frowned. For some reason, Hermione was looking at him. More specifically, she was looking at his exposed body. He looked down at himself. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He had gained some muscle, so that his ribcage did not completely stick out. He didn't see anything wrong with his body, so he didn't know why she was looking at him like she was. And more importantly, why she seemed to be turning pink. And for some reason, at her attention he too was beginning to feel strange. He could feel his face becoming warmer, and there was a strange feeling in his chest and stomach.
"Errr, sorry." He said awkwardly. "I'm going to put my shirt on now."
As he put his shirt and robe back on, his mind whirled with confusion. What was that strange feeling he had had from Hermione staring at him? And why was she looking at him like that? They had been friends for almost three years, and she had never looked at him in such a way before. Perhaps he should ask his Father about it.
 
Breakfast was thankfully the same as usual. That was, until Professor McGonagall came around and handed out the new timetables. He had had enough time to see that he had Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures before lunch and then Divination, followed by a two hour break before dinner, before Professor McGonagall spoke to him.
"Mr Potter, before your first class, may I speak to you in my office?"
Harry blinked in surprise.
"Errr, okay." He said before getting up and following the Professor out of the Great Hall.
As he sat opposite Professor McGonagall at her desk, he wondered what he could have possibly done so early in the year. He studied the Professor to see dark circles around her eyes and a sorrowful look on her face, mixed in with frustration and anger, which he hoped wasn't directed at him.
He sat awkwardly, hoping that something would break the tension. Then, Professor McGonagall sighed.
"Mr Potter," She began. "We must talk, about what was discussed last night with Professor Dumbledore."
"Oh." Harry replied.
"Yes," Professor McGonagall replied. "Is everything you said true, concerning your treatment from your guardians?"
Harry scoffed.
"Why would I lie about something like that?" He asked.
Professor McGonagall sighed again.
"I did not think you were. But I must know, why did you never tell us?"
Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Do you want me to answer honestly?" He asked.
"Yes." Professor McGonagall replied.
"Well," Harry began. "I mean no offence, but to be honest, I didn't tell anyone because I don't trust you."
"What?" Professor McGonagall asked, obviously shocked.
"To be frank," Harry elaborated. "I don't trust any form of authority figure. Anyone who has ever had any form of power over me has ended up abusing such power. I prefer to handle things on my own."
Professor McGonagall sighed.
"I am sorry it has come to this." She said.
Harry shrugged.
"I'm sorry too. I can tell that you do feel sorry, but..."
Professor McGonagall shook her head.
"I should have done something."
Harry shrugged.
"What could you have done? Nothing I tried worked. I told teachers at my old primary school, and that never worked. Everyone in the neighbourhood knew what I looked like compared to Dudley, and yet none of them found anything suspicious. The Dursleys got away with everything. I would walk into school with bruises, broken bones, hell, one time, I got put in hospital because I cracked my head open after Dudley tripped me down the stairs."
Professor McGonagall was clenching her fist at this point, and her knuckles were pale.
"I could have done more." She said. "I knew where you lived. I was there the night you were left with those people. I should have checked on you. But oh no, I was too trusting of Dumbledore's reassurances."
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Don't worry, I'm used to people worshipping Dumbledore like he's the second coming of Merlin."
Professor McGonagall shook her head.
"Well, you do not have to worry." She said. "I don't care what Dumbledore says, I will do all in my power to..."
"You don't have to worry about me." Harry interrupted. "I've found my own way out."
"You have?" Professor McGonagall asked. "But is it safe?"
Harry smiled.
"Even safer than Hogwarts. Though, I don't think that's much of an accomplishment, considering the past few years alone."
Professor McGonagall snorted in amusement before becoming serious again.
"But where is this place?"
Harry shook his head.
"Sorry, can't tell you." He replied. "It's confidential."
Professor McGonagall sighed. She then grabbed a small piece of parchment and wrote on it before handing it to Harry.
"Well then, I will not push the issue. You better get to your first class. Give this to Professor Sprout to explain your lateness."
Harry got up to leave.
"Thanks."
Just before he turned to leave, Professor McGonagall stopped him.
"And Mr Potter," She began. "I know that I have not been the most reliable professor in the past, but please, do not be afraid to come to me for help."
Harry smiled.
"I'll remember that, thanks."
 
Once the first lesson ended, Harry Ron and Hermione were quick to go down to Hagrid's hut, so they could meet with their giant friend a little before the lesson began. This was mainly so Harry could get the inevitable interrogation out of the way.
And as suspected, Hagrid was quick to question him.
"Harry, where tha ruddy hell have yeh been!" He yelled, approaching the three teens.
"Errr, hey Hagrid." Harry said.
"Don' ya hey Hagrid me." Hagrid retorted. "Do ya know how worried I've been?"
"Yeah, sorry about that." Harry said, raising his hands in surrender. "I really didn't mean to worry you or anyone in any way, really. But you know what they were like."
Hagrid snorted.
"I'm surprised yeh waited this long ta do it, actually." He replied. "Bu seriously, where were ya this summer?"
Harry looked down.
"I'm sorry Hagrid, I can't tell you that. It's really confidential. It's not that I don't trust you, you're actually one of the only people I do trust, it's just... Well... Errr..."
"Ya don' have ta tell me I'm bad at keepin secrets." Hagrid interrupted.
Harry blinked.
"Really, I meant you no offence..."
"Don' worry." Hagrid replied. "At least yeh bein honest an not tryin ta lie ta me out right."
Harry smiled.
"Thanks." He said in relief.
Once the lesson began, Hagrid showed them some quite... Interesting creatures called Blast-ended-screwts. Harry had the horrifying thought that perhaps that summer Hagrid had entertained himself by crossbreeding magical creatures with non-magical creatures to make what he could only call stinging explosive demons. Everyone had to concentrate to make sure they didn't get hurt.
Harry found this difficult, because he had a little red distraction called Colaen in the back of his mind. Because they were so close to the Forbidden Forest, Colaen had decided it would be a good idea to talk with him. Thankfully, she was still under camouflage, which meant no one could see her.
It wasn't that he didn't love talking to Colaen. She was his partner in mind after all. It was just that he didn't appreciate her hyperactive commentary on what was happening with the other students. Especially when she had asked if Malfoy was the "Light-haired narcissistic daddy's boy" he had told her about. He had to hold back his laugh when she said his hair was so shiny she might become blind, and commented that it must have been somehow glued to his head to remain so stiff and smooth.
By the end of it, he and the rest of the class were thankfully not hurt, and Harry was seriously wandering if his dragon had the draconian version of ADHD.
 
That afternoon, after he had Divination, he had two hours until dinner. So he decided to go into the Forbidden Forest and meet with his Father to organize his new training schedule. He would take Ron and Hermione to meet his Father and their dragons after dinner.
Hopefully, they would be able to get some sword-practice in.
But there was also something he was dying to ask his Father. It was concerning what had happened that morning, when Hermione had seen him shirtless. He was still trying to work out why Hermione had been looking at him in that way. And why it made him feel so... He didn't know.
He hoped that his Father would be able to tell him.
 
Murtagh had been reading when a very excited Colaen had told him that Harry was approaching. Thorn had been attempting to educate the young dragon in the art of calmness, and not running off without informing anyone, all afternoon since she had run off, due to Harry being in close proximity to the Forbidden Forest.
It was only about a minute before Harry and Colaen emerged from the trees into the clearing. The young man was smiling.
"Hey, how was your day?" He asked as he approached Murtagh.
Murtagh set down his book and stood up.
"It was fine. Though, we must find a way to calm Colaen down."
Harry scoffed.
"Good luck with that."
Murtagh chuckled.
"So how was your day?"
Harry shrugged.
"Fine. I got my new timetable, so maybe we could start organizing my training around it, and then maybe we could do some more sword-training?"
Murtagh nodded.
"When shall we be meeting your friends?"
"I was hoping after dinner tonight." Harry replied.
Murtagh smiled.
"That will be fine."
Harry then looked to his feet and shuffled uncomfortably.
"I errr... Wanted to talk to you about something."
"Oh, what is it?" Murtagh asked. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong." Harry said quickly. "It's just... Well... This morning, I went out to do some laps around the Black Lake and... And Hermione came along cause she was already up... And after I was hot so I took off my shirt for a few seconds but... But then Hermione was looking at me and... And I felt strange and... And I errr..."
Murtagh blinked. So this was the problem? It seemed so strange in its normality, compared to what they usually had to deal with. He almost laughed at it, but he thought it would not be wise, considering Harry's current state.
"Well, you have no need to feel so awkward about this." Murtagh said calmly. "The two of you have been friends for some time. Perhaps she is beginning to develop an attraction towards you, and you towards her."
Harry blinked, his face a mask of confusion.
"Errr... What?"
Murtagh frowned. This was honestly not what he was expecting.
"An attraction." He replied.
"What do you mean an attraction?" Harry asked.
Murtagh looked at him in surprise. Then, it suddenly dawned on him.
[Thorn, I don't think he has ever been educated in areas of intimacy.]
He said quickly to his dragon.
[Well, perhaps you should educate him.]
Thorn suggested.
[What?]
Murtagh said in surprise.
Thorn chuckled through their bond.
[Is it not your duty as his Father?]
Murtagh sighed. This was going to be a long, awkward conversation.
He cleared his throat.
"Harry, come sit down. I think you and I need to have a long conversation."
By the end of it, both of their faces were as red as their dragons. After a long awkward silence, Harry spoke.
"So you umm... Think that I errr... Have those kind of errr... Feelings for... For Hermione?"
"Possibly." Murtagh replied.
"But... but she's my friend." Harry argued. "I can't... I can't imagine her that way."
"That is how many relationships begin." Murtagh said slowly.
Harry groaned.
"Can we just start hitting each other with swords now. I don't want to think about anyone in that way right now."
Murtagh chuckled.
[Not a word of this to Eragon.]
He said to Thorn.
[I'll never hear the end of it.]
 
That night at dinner, Harry found it very difficult to look at any girl, especially Hermione. Every time he tried, he kept remembering that awkward conversation he and his Father had had.
"Mate, what's wrong?" Ron asked.
Harry beckoned for his friend to come closer, so he could whisper in his ear.
"I went to my Father this afternoon, and we had that talk."
"Oh." Ron said, grinning. "Yeah, I know. It can be pretty strange at first. Don't worry, you'll get used to the idea."
"I hope so." He muttered.
Once the meal was finished and people started leaving, Harry Ron and Hermione walked to an empty classroom and went under the invisibility cloak. He really had to talk to his Father about how to do camouflage properly. Ron was getting far too tall, and he wasn't exactly scrawny either. And then there was Hermione, she was becoming more curvy and... No, stop, bad Harry.
Once they were under the cloak, they somehow managed to leave the large doors onto the grounds. They walked quickly and quietly to the Forbidden Forest. Harry carefully led them to the campsite.
As soon as he was in range, he heard Colaen excitedly greeting him.
[Are they here?]
She asked.
Harry chuckled.
[Yeah, they're here.]
Harry turned to his friends.
"Get ready, Colaen's coming."
"When will she be here?" Hermione asked.
"In five, four, three, two..."
Instantly, the little red dragon burst through the trees. Harry took off the cloak and managed to put it in his pocket. Colaen quickly ran up to them. Harry smiled.
"Ron, Hermione, I would like you to meet my dragon, Colaen."
"Bloody hell." Ron breathed.
Hermione seemed speechless.
[Can I talk to them?]
Colaen asked.
[Let me just ask them.]
Harry replied. He turned to his friends.
"Is it okay if Colaen talks to you?"
"Yeah, sure." Hermione replied, dazed.
Ron only nodded. Harry began to make a connection between Ron, Hermione, Colaen and himself.
[Errr, hello?]
Hermione asked hesitantly.
[Hey.]
Colaen replied.
Instantly, Hermione smiled.
[Hello Colaen, it's nice to meet you.]
[Nice to meet you too. Harry's told me a lot about you.]
[Has he?]
[Yeah, he says you're the smartest person he knows.]
[Well, I don't know what to say to that.]
The two continued to go back and forth. Colaen asked Hermione questions and vice versa. They spoke mentally so quickly that Ron and even Harry had trouble keeping up.
Ron looked at him with wide eyes.
"Out of all the dragons, you had to get one that's exactly like Hermione, only on a sugar rush." He whispered incredulously.
Harry chuckled.
"Hey, don't go making fun of my dragon. Or Hermione, for that matter."
After about a minute, Harry thought that he should interrupt the conversation.
[Errr, sorry to interrupt you.]
He began.
[But I still want Ron and Hermione to meet my Father and Thorn. Remember them?]
Colaen grumbled a little bit, but she along with Hermione and Ron allowed the mental link to be broken.
Finally, Harry led Ron and Hermione through the remaining trees into the clearing. Colaen ran ahead of them and soon they reached the campsite.
Murtagh was standing there, waiting for them. Thorn did not seem to be in sight.
Harry smiled as he went further in the clearing.
"Ron, Hermione, this is my Father, Murtagh. Father, these are my friends, Ron and Hermione." He introduced.
Murtagh extended his hand.
"It is nice to meet you." He began. "Harry has told me much about you."
They both shook his hand hesitantly.
"Blimey, your tall." Ron said.
He turned to Harry.
"How are you so short?" He asked.
"I'm not short." Harry argued.
"You are a little." Ron retorted.
"You try growing up in a cupboard and see how tall you are."
Murtagh chuckled.
"Boys, please." He said, attempting to break up the fight.
Hermione was looking at Murtagh in the same way she did when she had found a new book.
"So, you're a Dragon Rider?" She asked.
"Yes." Murtagh replied.
"And you know a lot about... That strange magic that Harry used on the train?"
"Oh no." Ron whispered to Harry. "Here she goes again."
Just after Murtagh replied, Hermione began firing question after question at the man. Harry had to stifle his laughter. For once, Murtagh's mask was breaking and he appeared slightly flustered. Finally, after a few minutes, Murtagh interrupted the questioning by suggesting that he bring Thorn in to answer some of her questions about Alagaësian dragons.
"Oh, can I?" Hermione said excited. "I would love to see what it's like to have a mental conversation with an actual dragon. Well, besides Colaen, I mean."
"Hey, can I join in?" Ron asked. "Might be interesting."
And so Murtagh called Thorn out of where he had been concealed. After Ron and Hermione got over their shock from seeing the large dragon, Murtagh assisted in establishing a three-way mental bond. While they were distracted with the interrogation of Thorn, Murtagh walked over to Harry.
"That was... Interesting." He said.
Harry smiled.
"Yeah, sorry about that. Hermione can be a bit intense. I can still remember the first time I met her on the train. As soon as she heard my name she started talking about all the books I've been in."
Murtagh chuckled.
"I can see why you like her. She is so much like your Mother."
Harry's face became warm.
"I don't... She's my friend."
Murtagh chuckled.
"Do not worry, I will not push the matter."
After about ten minutes of Hermione's questioning, she, Ron and Thorn disconnected the bond and the two humans along with Harry and Murtagh sat down around the campfire. Murtagh began telling stories about his misadventures with Eragon while establishing the new Rider Order. They were the most pleasant tales he had from his time. Or at least, the ones he felt most comfortable telling.
Harry sat with Colaen curled up beside him, her head in his lap. He looked around at the people he cared about, both old and new. It felt nice, to have both friends and family who accepted him.
He looked at Hermione. He had to admit, she did look kind of pretty in the fire-light, with that smile on her face and... No, bad Harry.
He shook his head. He really needed to figure out what was going on with his mind and body.
[Why do human emotions have to be so complicated?]
Colaen asked.
Harry shrugged.
[Don't know, but it's really annoying.]