Dragons at Hogwarts

Chapter 55

I wake up with a start. My eyes are wide, still seeing the laughing man, the street full of bodies, the rat scuttling into the sewer.

I've had that dream a lot.

I have no idea where from, but it's achingly familiar,the situation, the crowded streets, the finger left behind... Its infuriatingly hard to pin down, though I know I've read about it. Urgh.

It's the start of the Christmas holidays, and no word has come about the trial. Malfoy is surprisingly silent about his discovery of my... draconic attributes, and was (successfully) avoiding me before he left for the holidays. I had no problem with that. 

I didn't want people to find out.

Being in bed, with no lessons, and no time to get up, when it's warm and the blankets are soft, is the best thing in the world. Except flying. The worst thing in the world.... I dunno. Probably Dementors?

Dementors. That reminds me, I was going to go and find a Dementor wasn't I? To find clues about how I ended up without my mother. I've been putting it off and putting it off, but I need to do it at SOME point, and I guess now is as good as ever.

Except bed. 

It can wait, I'm sure. 

Wait, no, it can't, I've got to do this. 

With a groan, I left the soft embrace of my blankets, venturing out into the wide (cold) world. 

Pulling some random clothes on, in place of my pajamas, I thought about what I was going to do. I'd been able to cast a Patronus charm for a while, so I should be alright doing this on my own. Plus it was the holidays, and everyone would be asleep. Where could I find a Dementor? They were guarding the boundaries of the school, so I should be able to find one if I just flew in a straight line outwards. But I would probably faint again, and I didn't want to be  in the air when that happened. 

Mulling over the problem, I grabbed my wand and wandered down into the common room, and then out through the portrait hole. There would be breakfast in the Great Hall, crumpets and toast and cereals, and I can always think better on a full stomach. 

There wern't many people at the Gryffindor table, just a few bleary-eyed seventh years  and two chattering first-year girls. I grabbed a few slices of toast, looking longingly at the fried breakfasts, but if I wanted to get this done before everyone woke up, I'd have to not get one of those delicious-looking eggs and avoid the crispy bacon. 

Well. 

I could make a sandwich?

A few minutes later I emerged into the Entrance Hall, scoffing my latest culinary invention: The BEST (Bacon, Egg, Sausage, Tomato) sandwich.  It was as delicious as it sounds.

I happily strolled out through the big main doors, wiping a bit of tomato ketchup off my chin.

Now all I had to do was find a Demetor.