T H I R T Y - T W O
A Dragon's Friend.

Maisaleon stood tall, his head bent down so that I could stroke him. Smiling, I listened to Professor Kettleburn explain the dynamics of dragons, the class of sixth year Gryffindors and Slytherins stood staring at the dragons in wonder.

Because Maisaleon and Sadie belonged to Alexius and I, Professor Kettleburn thought it best if we stood up front with him. Alexius was next to me silently playing with Sadie, trying not to draw a lot of attention, but failing miserably.

Maisaleon only wanted for me to stroke him, something I happily obliged to. Tom kept his eyes on me, though at some points they would wander to Maisaleon's form.

"Can anyone guess what breed of dragon Sadie is?" Professor Kettleburn drew my attention away from Tom.

Lavender rose her hand, a smile playing at her lips. Professor Kettleburn nodded at her to answer. "She's a Swedish Short-Snout." Professor Kettleburn applauded her, nodding in agreeance.

"Yes, very well Lavender. Sadie is a Swedish Short-Snout." Kettleburn looked around at the class. "Now, she's still young—just barely getting out of her child years in fact. I assume around fifteen, am I right, Mr. Lightly?" Professor Kettleburn looked to Alexius who grinned wildly.

"Yep, sir." The answer was perky.

"Well, in that case because she is still so young, she is alike to most young animals—though smarter in every way. She is alike other young animals in the meaning that she has much more energy than a fully grown dragon such as Maisaleon," Kettleburn motioned to my dragon, who was calmly allowing me to pet him. "Hence why she would rather play with Mr. Lightly, unlike Maisaleon who would rather be given affection by Miss Lightly." Alexius smiled upon being caught, no longer trying to hide the fact that he was playing with her.

"Not only that, but unlike many wizards believe, not all Swedish Short-Snout dragons breath fire. Yes, it's much more uncommon, but some do breath ice, take Sadie for example, she-" He was cut off by Sadie suddenly sneezing as Alexius tickled her nose, sending a mist of ice magic his way.

Alexius yelped, ducking down just in time before he was caught with the ice magic and no doubt get cold burns. I snickered from my spot causing Alexius to glare at me. Professor Kettleburn chuckled, looking back to the class seeing as Alexius was alright.

"Yes, you all just saw it first hand, Sadie is an ice breather." The class applauded the dragon, who seemed to suck it in—perking up upon the admiration. "Now, can anyone guess what breed Maisaleon is? It's a tricky question, as he's a rare type of dragon." Tom was the only one to raise his hand, locking eyes with me.

"Ah yes, Tom?"

"He's a Thunder-Bolt, sir. Last of his kind I reckon." Tom's answer was straight to the point, yet correct in all manners.

I was the first to break eye contact with him, cursing myself when a blush ate it's way onto my cheeks.

"Correct Tom! He is last of his kind. Now, a Thunder-Bolt is one of the few breeds of dragons that can breathe both fire and ice. The reason they are titled Thunder-Bolt is because these dragons in particular are known for their speed and hunting in thunderstorms." Professor Kettleburn clapped his hands. "Right now, each and every one of you will form an orderly line in front of each dragon to take your turn in petting them. Mr. and Miss. Lightly will stand beside the dragon, so you have nothing to fear. At the end of class they have agreed that they will each take one of you, so two in total, on a short ride with the dragon. Any questions?" No one rose their hand. "Okay, get in line."

Students immediately shoved each other, trying to be first in line. Each student walked up taking their time in stroking each dragon, cooing at them—something both Maisaleon and Sadie enjoyed.

I held my breath when Tom was the last student in my line, finally getting his turn to come to Maisaleon. Tom's footfalls were unnaturally silent in comparison to the previous student's who sounded like thunder. Tom kept his eyes firmly locked with Maisaleon's, both parties demanding respect from the other.

I was quiet, watchin in surprise as he gently stroked the dragon. A smile tugged at my lips, and I cocked my head at the teen boy.

"I took you for more of a snake person." My word's caused for a scoff to escape Tom's being.

Shaking his head in silent laughter, he looked to me. "I am, but I suppose dragons come to a close second." Maisaleon made a noise of disagreement, huffing causing for smoke to come out of his nostrils.

Tom began coughing and so did I as we laughed. "Maisaleon didn't like that very much, Tom." I mockingly tutted at him, Tom rolling his eyes at my silliness before he had to go back and stand with the rest of the class.

Looking around, I exhaled knowing that Scotland was upon its last few warm days. Sooner rather than later a chilling cold was to sweep the Highlands. However, because I lived in New York city all my life I was accustomed to the cold.

Looking to the sky with a smile, I couldn't stop myself from sniffing the air around me. It was fresh, fresh air was something that was rare for me to smell, usually at home all I could smell was the smog polluted air. Here, it was different, better in a sense.

Looking to the forest behind me, I bit my lip unable to stop myself from appreciating it for what seemed like the millionth time. The only time I really saw nature like this was when I was traveling, other than that I was surrounded by city. Sniffing the air once more, I couldn't stop myself from smirking.

It was going to rain later, I could pick the scents up from the clouds rolling in miles away. I predicted it would begin just after dinner tonight, but stop just as classes begin tomorrow. Alexius eyed me, before doing the same. He threw me an unnoticeable smile, no doubt smelling the rain as well.

"Okay, for the last ten minutes of class two students will accompany Mr. and Miss. Lightly on their flight. Who wants to be one of the students to accompany them." My eyes widened when literally every single person's hand was in the air.

Professor Kettleburn looked slightly surprised as well, but smiled regardless. Looking thoughtful, the man placed a finger under his chin—overlooking every student in the class. The Professor's eyes lit up as he suddenly came up with an idea.

With an excited twinkle the man looked to Lavender. "Lavender, since you were the one to answer the question about Sadie correctly, you are the lucky female to ride Sadie with Mr. Lightly." Lavender wasted not time in excitedly bouncing up to Alexius and Sadie, Alexius helping Lavender up.

The class was silent, as Alexius joined Lavender on Sadie's back—sitting behind her. Lavender blushed heavily when Alexius wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her in place. Abraxas seeing this as well, snarled looking to the two in distaste.

Ignoring him, Professor Kettleburn then looked to Tom. "Tom, since you answered the question about Maisaleon correctly, you get to ride with Miss. Lightly." Tom was much more calm about walking up to me, unlike Lavender.

Turning to Alexius who was getting ready to take off, I held up a hand. "Hold on, let's race." My tone was cocky, making Alexius roll his eyes, yet he didn't refuse.

"Fine, but only if it it's fair. Professor Kettleburn needs to count us off." I rolled my eyes at that.

"Okay, but you could have a twenty second head start and you'd still lose." I snickered, Alexius glaring and Sadie growling.

Sticking my tongue out, I turned my attention to Tom's tall body as he stopped just inches away. Swallowing the butterflies in my stomach, I grinned up at him. "Looks like you chose the winner of this race." Alexius and Lavender booed me in the background, Tom only handing me his usual smirk.

"Well, in that case I suppose I should be thankful." I smiled up at him, before climbing onto Maisaleon, Tom right behind me.

As soon as Tom was situated behind me, wrapping his arms around my body—I turned giving the Professor a thumbs up. With an excited gleam in his eye, Kettleburn turned holding up his hand.

"FIVE! FOUR! THREE! TWO! ONE! GO!" His shout echoed around as Alexius wasted no time in making Sadie leave the ground.

I made it a point to not go right away, watching as Alexius steered Sadie over the lake. The class looked to me in confusion, Tom hissing in my ear. "What in Merlin's name are you doing?"

"I told them I could give them a head start and still beat them, I'm simply proving my point." I smirked, turning to Tom resting a hand on his chest. "Don't worry Tom, Maisaleon's really fast." Maisaleon hummed in agreement with me, Tom looking down to the hand placed on his chest with raised brows.

Realizing what I was doing, I immediately turned away a bright blush painted across my cheeks. Clearing my throat not wanting anyone to notice the blush, I distracted them by my shout. "Maisaleon, let's win this thing!" Taking my shout as a heads up, Tom held onto me tighter and Maisaleon left the ground with a burst of energy.

No noise left Tom, but he did grasp onto my smaller frame much tighter as he was obviously not expecting such speed. Multiple students gasped from down below not expecting such a thing either, and yet the smile remained on my face.

"Come on, Maisaleon! Let's beat my idiot brother." Nothing more had to be said as we were suddenly in the clouds and right next to Alexius and Lavender.

Lavender was the first to see us, nudging Alexius with a smile as he too looked to us. "You have got to be kidding me!" His tone held exasperation at our speed, dropping my right eyelid in a wink—we passed them.

I shouted in glee, patting Maisaleon as we glided through the clouds. We slowed a bit when we were far enough in front of Alexius and Sadie that we didn't need to worry. From behind me, Tom let out a few chuckles—me joining him.

When his hands left my waist, I looked behind me only to be greeted with the sight of Tom holding his arms out, allowing the clouds to run through his fingers. The wind swept through his hair blowing it back, and out of its usual perfection. I grinned at it, seeing for once his eyes not cold and calculating. Instead they were bright and full of life as adrenaline was obviously coursing through his veins.

Tom met my eyes, seeing me watching him. Immediately I smirked at him, looking down to where only the water of the black lake was visible. With no hesitation, I was standing on the back of the dragon balancing myself as he flew.

Tom's eyes widened, and immediately he looked worried—not even bothering to hide it. "Sit down, Rhiannon." He exclaimed, me only shaking my head.

"Don't worry." My feet shuffled a bit making it look as if I was about to fall, Tom jumping to try and catch me.

He scowled when he realized I was only messing with him. Lips pulled back in a smile, I began walking backwards away from him. "Get back here!" He yelled, me only shrugging my shoulders.

"You're going to need to come and get me." Tom's eye twitched, as he suddenly looked down again, debating how high we were.

"Yes, Tom. We are high in the air." I looked to him venturesomely. "But life is full of risk, so come and get me if you really want me to sit down again." My feet worked in sort of dance, as I pranced around my dragon's back—my feet clad in the black school shoes.

Tom hissed in derision when my feet spun me around the dragon's back in a dance motion. It wasn't until I literally leaped, performing a full circular spin and barely managing to land on my feet again, that Tom himself was standing making his way toward me. I smiled watching Tom's face twist into unease as I once again leaped spinning in the air.

However, this time when I landed my foot slipped and I nearly went falling off his back. Just as my body was meant to go down, Tom's arms were suddenly wrapped around me—pulling me tightly against him.

I froze as our eyes suddenly met powerfully, and our bodies were molded together. All I could focus on was him, everything else didn't matter. Tom was like my lifeline, a flame which I was clutching onto to keep warm. It took me a moment to realize this was the soul-bound bond becoming more prominent, pulling us together in ways indescribable.

All I could feel was the shape of him, how he completed me. As cheesy as it sounded it was like two matching pieces to a card. I snapped out of it, when Maisaleon suddenly dropped out of the clouds causing for both Tom and I almost lose our balance.

Remembering that we were quite literally flying right now, I quickly sat down Tom following in suit—expression still one of shock. His eyes were wide, but full of thoughts running amongst his head and lips pulled into a straight line.

Shaking my head, I let out a breath. "What was that?" I surprised when I heard Tom's voice question me, except he sounded slightly dazed.

Facing the wizard, I smirked. Tom's expression suddenly hardened as he caught a hold of himself. Looking me in the eyes, his hard blue's glared holes into me.

Ignoring him, I only shrugged as if to say 'how am I supposed to know?' Looking behind us, I saw Alexius beginning to catch up.

"Let's win this, Maisaleon." My words encouraged the dragon, to drop down drastically and increase his speed majorly.

The wind whipped my hair back, and I suddenly stood in a bit of a squat as I rode my dragon who was coming in hot. Laughing at my own thoughts, my pupils dilated—the sound of air flying by us the only thing I could focus on.

When we were just a few feet from the ground, Maisaleon stopped—landing on all fours calmly. The students all immediately began cheering, realizing that we did give Alexius a head start and still won.

It wasn't until Tom and I were off of Maisaleon, that Alexius landed with Lavender. He gave me a look of disbelief as he helped Lavender off. I looked over to Tom, who walked back to his cronies—a look of contemplation written across his facial features.

~

I watched sourly from the couch in the common as Walter, Lavender, and Alexius were all dressed up frolicking about. Yep, that's right—they were all invited to Slug Club. As it would turn out, Alexius was opposite to me in all things magic—meaning he had a natural talent for it.

He was invited to Slug Club on our second day, Lavender and Walter the same story. So, yeah, I was the only one out of our quartet who didn't get to come. Not to mention the fact that Alexius would be with Tom where I couldn't keep an eye on him.

I had asked Lavender earlier that day to try and keep them separated, something she promised she would do. Now, Lavender stood in front of me placing her earrings in. Lavender looked gorgeous to say the least.

She clad in an all-black dress, heels adorning her feet making her successfully taller than me for the first time. Her brown hair had been pulled up in a loose fancy updo, and just the right amount of makeup coated her face. Not to mention the emerald earrings she had just put on, Lavender truly was a sight to behold.

Walter looked handsome as well, a nicely tailored suit adorning his figure and hair well brushed to the side. Alexius was also handsome, a sight girls would no doubt be fawning over as they did Tom. Alexius went with a simple nice shirt, a bow-tie and slacks. Not too formal, but it made him look hot to say the least.

It was no secret that Alexius had become the secondary Tom Riddle. Of course, he was nowhere near as polite and gentlemanly as Tom, yet the girl's fawned over him as they did Tom. They knew with Tom, it was rare they would have a chance, but considering Alexius was a self-deemed man whore—it wasn't too hard to get in with him.

Not mention that Alexius was almost at Tom's calibar when it came to magic, he wasn't necessarily there, but he was close enough. However, to be fair it was because most of the time Alexius used his Antichrist will to power his wand, giving him a large boost in magic.

"Okay, we'll see you later, Rhiannon." Lavender smiled apologetically knowing I was sour about not being able to attend.

"Don't wait up." Alexius winked, me scowling in response.

"Whatever, go ahead. Leave me behind." I dramatically fell on the couch, the three waving goodbye as they left the room.

The common room wasn't too busy, as this year Slughorn had a bigger office and so he could have more people attend his lavish parties. It wasn't a secret that triple the amount of people got an invitation this year, and most of the fifth through seventh year Gryffindor's received one. I, along with the children and other teenage delinquents who loathed potions were stuck back here while the other's partied it up.

I groaned realizing Tom was no doubt over there now being fawned over by many girls as Alexius was. However, I nearly slapped myself for being so petty. Since when did I get this jealous? With a long sigh, I threw myself back on the couch.

What to do, what to do?

Out of sheer boredom, the next thirty minutes was spent completing my homework assignments. I was pleasantly surprised when I knew most of the answers to the Astronomy questions, and happy when I finally finished the entire thing.

Walking into my dorm, I caught sight of both my roommates, Penelope Watson and Anamaria Valdez sitting on their beds giggling while reading over a magazine. They greeted me kindly when I walked in, me doing the same in return.

I was quick to put my homework in my rucksack, sighing when I realized I officially had nothing else to do. However, a frown appeared on my face when a letter suddenly popped into existence on the floor next to me.

Looking over my shoulder to make sure my roommates didn't see anything, I opened the letter when I saw they were absorbed too in Teen Witch Weekly to pay any mind to what I was doing. My eyebrows furrowed when I read what was happening.

It wasn't a long letter at all, simply one sentence. However, that one sentence was capable of sending an alarming amount of chills down my spine. That one sentence was enough to petrify me into a oblivion.

The single sentence read.

Come home as fast as possible.
- Balthazar

My face went blank when I realized this note was in Enochian, so no one else could read it. Looking back to my roommates who giggled with each other, I took advantage of their distraction and burned the note into ashes. No one else could ever see it.

Kicking the ashes away on the floor, I stood up and walked out of the room at a quick pace. My feet thudded against the floor, as my body carried me out of the common room and down the corridor which led to Slughorn's office. Balthazar no doubt meant for Alexius to come as well.

As I walked down the corridor my mind began wandering to the worst of the worst scenarios. For all I know Balthazar could be in danger. Understanding that this was a very real possibility, I immediately froze in my steps and hid in the nearest broom closet. Luckily for me, this broom closet happened to be one of the bigger ones in this school.

If anything was wrong at home, I wanted to be at full power—meaning my grace could not be dormant. With every fiber of my being, I awoke my grace. Pulsing through me at unprecedented speed, my golden power filled up every single part of my body.

Feeling my eyes turn gold, and my wings make another appearance I shifted so that my wings wouldn't get caught on the wall. Everything seemed to come together in that moment, never had I been at Hogwarts with full power.

I always seemed to forget how amazing my sense were with my grace, if I thought they were good without it than I was lying to myself. I could now hear the thestrals roaming about in the dark forest, see every single speck floating, smell the House Elf's already beginning to cook breakfast for tomorrow morning, taste the molecules of the air, feel the very gravity holding me down to this spot. It was an overwhelming joy that momentarily coursed through me to be myself again.

I was free again, I had the ability to be anywhere in anytime. Gulping at the sensations, I reluctantly forced my wings away, and patiently waited the few seconds it took for my eyes to fade into Hazel once more.

Shaking it off, I looked to angel blade which was no longer hidden as a wand. Not even bothering to turn it, I shoved it up the sleeves of my sweater—leaving the broom closet. Even as I walked, I felt more powerful, like if anyone even looked at me wrong all I had to do was snap my fingers and they would turn to ash. Which I suppose in a way is true, not that I would ever do that.

I was calm as I stopped just outside the door of the office, unable to stop myself from sniffing. I could smell all the particular scents. Ironically Lavender herself smelled of Lavender flower, Walter smelled like wild nuts, Alexius stank of Demonic energy something I always teased him about quite frankly, and Tom, well Tom had his own remarkable unique scent. It was almost indescribable, he smelled like fresh rain water mixed with parchment and mint cologne. It was an extremely odd scent, but a scent I wouldn't mind smelling forever if I had to.

Taking myself out of those odd thoughts, I quickly but quietly opened the door coming face to face with a complex sight. Professor Slughorn himself stood at the center, surrounded by five boys. The five boys being Tom, Walter, Abraxas, a random Hufflepuff boy, and Nott.

I tried, I really did to focus on anything but how good Tom looked. Alas, my attempts ended in me failing miserably.

There he stood, a charming smile plastered across his face while he interacted with Slughorn, his black tuxedo defined his body well, the shiny shoes he wore looking glossier than a newly shined car, and not a hair out of place. My breath caught in my throat, and I nearly fell into a coughing fit at how handsome he was.

I blamed it on my grace, I noticed when my grace was in its correct place inside of me—I tended to have many more hormones. Clearing my throat, I forcefully ripped my eyes away from the sight which was Tom Riddle. Getting myself to focus once more, I looked over to where Alexius stood wooing a bunch of ladies and Lavender standing next to him looking drastically annoyed.

Knowing we didn't have time for any nonsense, I didn't hesitate in forcing a telepathic link between the two of us. Alexius took a sharp intake of breath when he felt the link.

'Balthazar needs us home. He might be in trouble.'

Alexius was quickt to shake off the ladies, all of whom pouted, Alexius looking to where I stood in the doorway.

'Your grace isn't dormant, I can literally smell the Celestial stink coming off you.'

I scowled at the boy, crossing my arms.

'Say's the guy who smells like sulfur and rotten egg everyday.'

It was true, to anyone who had the nose of a demon or angel, you would be able to smell exactly what demonic magic smells like. Sulfur and rotten egg, a nasty mix. To demon themselves, the smell was quite attractive; however, to any other being it simply stunk. It was the same vice versa, angels generally smelled of honey and feathers—a smell which to me was nice, but to Alexius was disgusting.

Lavender noticed Alexius's sudden change of nature as the girls all left with disappointed looks. She placed a hand on his shoulder in concern, asking what was wrong.

"Nothing, but Pandora and I need to go home for a bit. We'll be back before tomorrow, but I need you to cover for us." Alexius said in her ear, Lavender nodding throwing me a glance.

She smiled, something I returned, but her eyes held worry for the both us. Slowly, she mouthed the words 'is everything okay?'

I only shrugged in reply, 'I don't know.' I mouthed back. Alexius began speed walking my way, it was only when he was a few feet in front of myself that we heard Slughorn's voice call out for him.

"Alexius!" Unable to just ignore him, Alexius turned toward the Professor with a urging smile.

A jolly look was written on Slughorn's face as he motioned to Tom. "Have you met Tom yet? I predict the two of you would get along fabulously considering you are both some of the most talented students here." Tom kept his charming persona on, looking to Alexius while standing next to Slughorn.

"No, sir. I don't believe I have." Alexius stated through clenched teeth, the both of us knowing that if we didn't cut this conversation off now we'd be stuck in it longer than either of us wanted.

"Excuse me!" Everyone turned their head to me in surprise.

"Rhiannon? I didn't invite you, what are you doing here?" I sighed in annoyance as my legs took me to where Alexius was standing in the center of the room.

"I'm sorry Professor, I know I'm crashing the party I wasn't invited to, but my brother and I need to go meet with Professor Dumbledore immediately. Tom and Alexius can hopefully meet never, so yeah see you later." Him along with the rest of the students gaped at me as I dragged Alexius by the hand to the door.

"That was very rude, Rhiannon." Alexius said in a scolding tone, turning back to the Professor. "I am so sorry for my sister's rude behavior Professor, she's just upset that she's not as good as me in potions." I swatted him for that comment, unable to stop him when he turned to face Tom. "Hello Tom, nice to meet you! I'm sure we'll be able to have an actual conversation without Rhiannon dragging me away next time!" He shouted just as we left the room, me not even looking back to gauge Tom's reaction.

As soon as the door slammed shut behind, I listened for anyone who might be lurking in the corridor. I was confident when I sensed no other person and wasted no time in transporting us back to 2015 Manhattan.