Yuan trudged back to his offices slowly, satisfied that with Harry human again and the Healers fussing over him, all was once again well at Dragonsrest. He knew that as long as the occupants of Dragonsrest were living on the Reserve, life would not be dull - not that life had ever been precisely dull on a Dragon Reserve, but Harry and his friends had lent an aspect of excitement they usually didn't see.

Death Eaters, young lads popping out of enchanted diaries, dragons rescued from goblins, attempted kidnapping, Death Eaters getting eaten by dragons....the list trailed on. Part of it, of course was the coming conflict with Voldemort. The dragons knew of it ... somehow, and the dragonriders and dragonkeepers were preparing - even if it was only preparing mentally.

He'd been glad some of them had the chance to help search and ward the safehouses Lucius and Severus had ‘confiscated' from the Dark Lord. Many riders had family or friends that would be targeted by the Death Eaters when the conflict started, and they had been relieved when Severus had said that they would be happy to hide or support anyone the Reserve needed assistance for.

The Reserves had managed to stay neutral and free of the Dark Lord's presence during the last war - but many had had family killed or injured in an effort at blackmailing the Reserve occupants. Yuan was glad they had some better options this time.

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Minerva and Albus waited until the Healers were done with their spells and potions and Harry was drowsy from the pain potions. Minerva leaned forward to catch his attention.

"I will be back to talk to you about your animagus form - don't try anything until I tell you too, young man." Minerva shook her finger in admonishment, and Harry nodded sleepily at her. The pair flooed back to Hogwarts, glad that the situation was resolved with no one dead.

The Healers muttered together over a parchment, and finally seemed to come to an agreement. Randall turned to the nervous occupants of the room.

"Well his injuries did cause some problems as he transformed back to human - but we've stabilized him and it should only take a few days of rest to complete the healing." Randall coughed delicately. "However the St Mungo's Healer has to report all animagus injuries to the ministry - you likely will be seeing headlines over his adventure before long."

Severus frowned a moment, then asked "I know you must make your report, but must you say exactly what his animagus form is? Even if you hedge by saying his is avian, it would be better." He eyed the Healer's confused faces. "I'd like his form to stay at least a little secret - it would be safer for him if it was not well-known."

The confusion cleared and the St Mungo's Healer nodded in agreement, "Of course, ‘avian' is enough for my report."

The Healers left with promises to return to check on the boys in the morning. Lucius and Severus grimaced at each other and nodded - they would contact Cornelius by way of Hugo before the report reached the ministry.

Petunia persuaded Dudley to lie down on a sofa, near Harry's bed - the Healers wanted him resting for a day, after his concussion. Draco had his left arm in a sling, and was curled up in an overstuffed chair by Harry's bed, sipping on a pain potion as well, Lucius sitting in a chair next to him.

Tom stood hesitantly in the doorway, with concern in his eyes. "Don't suppose you're hungry are you, Harry. Or did you catch some fish as an Osprey?"

A loud growl from direction of Harry's stomach answered them, making them chuckle. Tinker popped in before he could be called, hovering a tray of soup with crusty bread and a tall glass of milk. Severus and Rosemerta helped him sit up and packed pillows behind him.

"Fish chowder, Master Harry, I's glad you's back and well." Tinker piped in happy tones. The wizards all smirked at the choice of fish, yet again for the young animagus.

Harry fell on the feast in relief. Eating one handed slowed him a bit, but he'd been warned to keep his left arm very still until it had set properly. The broken wing had taken the transformation back to human bones poorly and his shoulder had been badly mangled by the change. The Healers were confident they had put it right - but ‘he needed to be very careful until the skelemend potion had a chance to do its repair work'. He was glad he wasn't left handed.

Harry glanced over at Draco - Draco was left handed, and he'd be restricted until tomorrow by the sling. Draco had taken it well, saying ‘it was only one day'. Harry had ordered a second bowl and more bread when Hugo Savage arrived in answer to their owl and listened in incredulity to Harry's latest adventure.

"Well, well Mr. Potter. If anyone had any doubts about your magical strength, this should clear things up." Hugo shook his head in wonder. "I have seen witches and wizards as young as you transform while in a panic - but they've been few and far between - only four others in the century I've lived."

Harry tried to look interested in what Hugo had to say, but his stomach was full, his mind fogging with tiredness and his eyes were drifting shut. Hugo chuckled and said he would go talk to Minister Fudge immediately. "This shouldn't cause that much of a flutter - an adventure, to be sure, but with magical children it's something wizard parents come to expect."

Severus nodded absently, turning back to watch his son sleep.

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Hugo flooed straight to the Ministry, noting that luncheon had barely started - excellent, the Minister always took a rather long one, and Hugo often invited himself to the Ministers table. Sure enough, Cornelius was deciding between various soups when Hugo strolled in.

"Harry Potter just finished up some fish chowder - you might try that." Hugo offered with a smile.

Cornelius looked up in surprise. "Hugo, good to see you. How is our young Harry?"

Hugo looked archly at the hovering aide, who took that as a dismissal and left. Hugo sat and ordered a beef sandwich. Cornelius ordered the fish chowder and a club sandwich, to Hugo's amusement.

"Now, what is this about, Hugo? You never run off the aides unless it's dire." Cornelius demanded.

"Harry - along with his cousin and Draco Malfoy went to the White Hart gem mine in Wales for a bit of fun. Harry managed to fall over a cliff - though the other two boys almost killed themselves trying to save him." Hugo looked at the Minister's pale and horrified face. "Harry turned into a bird - his animagus form - and flew off. He's been retrieved and is back to himself, though he did have a small arm injury. He's sleeping his adventure off now." Hugo handed the minister a parchment with the entire tale written down.

The minister collapsed back in his chair in relief. "Great Scott! An animagus at age ten?"

"Not really an animagus...yet. He transformed out of panic. He couldn't do it again - unless someone shoved him off another cliff." Hugo said casually. "Severus and Lucius wanted you to know, since St Mungo's has to write a report, of course, that will be passed on to the underage magic department. They always want to know if a young wizard is manifesting this early, so they can stay on top of any muggles likely to witness anything. They want to keep his exact form quiet - just having them write down that he's a bird."

Cornelius nodded happily. As long as he was aware - and wouldn't look like an idiot when questioned, he was happy. "I have a press conference about several other topics, should I include this, do you think?" He asked. Hugo was quite canny about such things.

Hugo thought a bit, "Not as a main topic - leave it to the end as a ‘guess what Harry Potter got up to on spring break?' story, and say you are only telling them so they can write articles on the dangers of underage wizards attempting to transform without proper guidance - we always have too many injuries from those every year, and if Harry Potter got injured - though he didn't transform on purpose - other children certainly shouldn't try it." Hugo smiled in satisfaction.

Cornelius nodded in agreement - he could already write the speech in his head. Perfect, and another story that linked his name with Harry's - if only because he was telling the tale to the press. He and Hugo chatted companionably and then went their separate ways.

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Lucius and Draco took their leave reluctantly, but Draco really needed to rest. "I'm going to insist he stay home tomorrow - he'll object, but that shoulder needs to heal." Lucius said.

Petunia dragged a protesting Dudley his own room and handed him a dreamless sleep, with a stubborn look. He sighed and took it. The Healer had sternly insisted he rest, so he might as well.

Rosemerta kissed Harry's brow and then Severus' as well. "I had best get back to the Three Broomsticks - my customers will be expecting to see me soon."

Severus caught her hand as she went by. "Thank you, Rosemerta. Without your quick thinking regarding using Hedwig ... we might still be looking for him."

Rosemerta smiled and stroked Hedwig's head, who was sitting on the footboard of the bed. "Hedwig did all the work - but I am glad the plan was sound." The owl had been smug since her return from Wales, and they were all grateful for her cleverness. Rosemerta flooed away and Tom sat in the chair next to Severus, watching Harry sleep.

"You should get some sleep - while he is sleeping. I know you didn't really rest last night, and you can't live on pepper-up potions for long." Tom said quietly.

Severus sighed and nodded, "Call me when he wakes." He said as he walked across the hallway and lay down feeling the tension easing as he slowly accepted that Harry was home and would be alright. The relief was overwhelming, and he was glad he was alone so he could let his mask fall for a few moments. He fell into a restful sleep, secure in the knowledge that for now, Harry was safe.

Tom sat at Harry's bedside, eating some of the soup and crusty bread as well. He had a book to identify crystals in front of him, the crystal that Harry had risked his life for lying beside it. Dudley had remembered it was in his shirt and had given it to Tom. The large crystal had broken lengthwise into two long - almost wand-like lengths of an almost-clear light gold color crystal.

Tom finally found the crystal listed as ‘Danburite Crystal'. Tom smiled as he read about the properties of it - no wonder Harry had felt drawn by it.

Of course Harry awakened just before supper, yawning and trying to stretch. Luckily the Healers had swathed his left arm close to his side and chest, so he couldn't accidentally move it. Tom smiled at Harry. "I've been looking up your crystal - it's quite an interesting one." Tom handed him the two pieces of crystal and the book for Harry to read the passage.

Harry smiled, "A useful stone for me, then...and you as well, Tom." Tom looked surprised while Harry grinned. "I think the crystal was supposed to break into two. It's meant to help someone facilitate a deep change and leave the past behind - that's something both of us are doing." Harry looked briefly uncomfortable and then forged forward, proffering one of the two crystals to Tom. "And I think it would be a gift that one brother would share with the other...I think that's what we are becoming...don't you?"

Tom was frozen for a moment in shock, deeply touched by Harry's offer. He, too, had felt the two of them were walking down a path toward some sort of brotherhood, but he hadn't expected Harry to draw that conclusion so soon.

"Harry is remarkably insightful about some things. And I think he's always wanted a big brother - just as he's always wanted parents." Yvane commented.

"Thank you, Harry." Tom accepted the crystal in a slightly choked voice. "I'm happy to be your brother, Harry - just promise no more flinging yourself over cliffs just because you see something shiny, okay?"

Harry chortled happily. "Promise - I'll firecall you and let you go fetch it for me."

"That would be easier that camping out all night." Tom almost bit his tongue at that, he hadn't meant to sound like he had minded...but Harry just looked envious.

"Was it fun? I've never been camping. Do you think we can camp out somewhere over the summer?" Harry's eyes lit up at the thought.

"We'll have to acquire a wizard tent - I don't like ‘roughing it'." Severus' voice came from the doorway. He had heard the boys talking about the crystal and it had been heartening to hear the boy's pledge of brotherhood. It greatly relieved his mind that they had bonded this way, instead of any further jealousy developing as it had in the past.

"Wizard tent? What do you mean? Do they had weatherproofing and stuff on them - or do they assemble themselves?" Harry asked eagerly. Tom looked equally curious.

"We'll leave that as a surprise for another time. The spells on wizard tents are ... extensive, but I'd rather you see them for yourselves." Severus smirked at the two. The hunt for information on tents would keep Harry...and likely Dudley and Tom ... busy for a day or two. He would have to warn Draco to not spill the beans. Draco would likely enjoy teasing the lot of them over it for a bit.

Severus mused that Tom would likely be ordering more books - there was nothing in his library on anything as frightful as camping. He left the boys talking excitedly about what might be added to a tent. Dudley joined them, yawning, as Severus left to order supper and heard Dudley start describing an RV to Tom and explaining the name Winnabago.

Tinker fussed over what to serve, young master Harry had the bird gone from him long enough now to not mind something other than fish, but with only one hand it must be a simple dish. Young master Dudley also needed something easy on the stomach, though the worst of his injury was over with. Shepard's Pie was finally decided on for the boys and steaks were thrown on the fire for Tom and Master Severus. He popped in to ask Mistress Petunia which she would prefer and she opted for the Shepard's pie. Tinker sighed in contentment - and squeaked at Dobby to hurry with the berries and cream trifle. He knew Harry would be wanting that.

Harry was sleepy after the hearty supper; it was good to not be hungry. The missed meals while an Osprey had brought back memories of worse times - before he and Dudley had run to Severus. He'd almost forgotten the feeling of misery and desperation that hunger could bring on. Severus tucked him into bed after several potions.

"Sleep well, son, you're safely at home." Harry felt the words like a warm hug and drifted happily into sleep.

Severus watched Harry drift off, and smiled. It would be an early night for all of them, he thought, in spite of the naps. Tom was firecalling Dora to give yet another update on Harry. Severus grinned a bit at that. He hoped Tom's attachment to the girl would not come to a horrible end when she started Auror training. If they just drifted apart it wouldn't be so bad, but she - or he might find someone new and then there would be tears and hard feelings. Severus shuddered - the worst part of being Head of House was when there was some romantic horror occurring - well he thought with a smile, that would be something shunted off to Sinistra from now on. It was one of the first duties he'd landed her with.

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Draco had rested fairly well all night, but now dawn was breaking and for once he wasn't bouncing out of bed eagerly. He'd been so relieved that Harry was rescued and back to himself that he hadn't really thought about the implications of Harry's accomplishment until he'd awakened this morning. He'd known that Harry was powerful, but this had illustrated just how powerful he likely was.

Draco had wanted to get his animagus form the moment he heard they existed - at approximately the age of five. He'd yelled and thrown tantrums when he learned that most wizards didn't study for it until after Hogwarts, though some sixth and seventh years took tutoring - very expensive tutoring - in it.

His father had finally silenced him, promising to tutor him, himself, when his magic and control was considered great enough. Lucius was a rather elegant white fox and Draco hoped to be something similar. He would have been content to wait, but now Harry was a sea hawk - an Osprey - and he felt the unfamiliar burn of envy. He knew it was likely stupid - Harry wouldn't be allowed to do it again without extensive lessons, and would probably be forbidden them for years, yet.

Still, it was hard to take.

He curled up on his side and tried to tell himself it didn't matter. He was surprised to find his moping interrupted by his already dressed-to-the-nines father, and a long line of house elves carrying breakfast trays and potions.

Lucius had wondered if Draco wouldn't be annoyed by this mishap of Harry's. He well remembered Draco's obsession with animagus abilities. As a younger child he'd often begged Lucius to change into his fox form. It was one trick Lucius had not minded indulging him in. Lucius was quite proud of the accomplishment. Transfiguration had not been Lucius' top subject, after all.

Sure enough, as he looked at Draco he could see the misery and jealousy swirling in his grey eyes. He seemed to be struggling against it, though. This impressed Lucius; he could remember when Draco would not have done so. But, Draco valued Harry's friendship - had suffered a very painful dislocated shoulder in an effort to rescue him. This had also impressed Lucius deeply. It was good to know that Draco could display courage at the right time.

"Well, how is the shoulder feeling? The healer will be here to check it over before lunch." Lucius reached out a hand and an elf put the morning paper in it. Lucius opened it and lay it on Draco's lap. "You and Dudley are touted as selfless heroes enduring painful injuries in an effort to save Harry's life. You'll be getting fan mail soon." Lucius joked.

Draco managed a brief smile and glanced at his father. He was pretty sure his dad had figured out his problem. Not much got by him - especially a person's motivations and weaknesses.

"I know I'm being petty and foolish by envying Harry, father. I'm kind of glad I have to have this day at home. It will give me time to remind myself that I'm glad Harry transformed - it saved his life, and it won't be that many years before I can start training to find my own form." Draco managed to say this with a positive tone and a marked amount of sincerity, Lucius was pleased to note.

Lucius nodded and sat near Draco on the bed, waving one of the trays to lie across Draco's lap. "It's good you are facing this now, rather than later - I know that up to now that even though we knew Harry was powerful, he hadn't done anything you couldn't do as well." Lucius looked at Draco seriously. "We all at one time or another have to face the fact that there will always be someone out there that can outdo us in one way or another. Even Dumbledore had to face the fact that Professor McGonagall knew more than him about animagus transformations. There's always someone better - at potions, chess, or has more power, or wealth, or ... whatever. You will find your own excellence that others will envy you for, Draco."

Draco nodded and smiled. "Thank you, father."

Lucius smiled in return. Now and then he managed to do the father thing correctly. He was trying quite hard at it, with Narcissa gone. He'd been pleasantly surprised, when they had returned with Harry to find Petunia sitting between Draco and Dudley, comforting them both. Well, comforting Draco anyway. Dudley had rolled over and pretended sleep.

He would need to send a nice bouquet and note to her. He rose and walked toward the door. "I'll be in my office, downstairs if you need me."

Draco smiled and started on breakfast, he was feeling better about it all, already.

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Severus studied the paper with his second cup of coffee. The minister had apparently told Harry's story as a ‘warning to other young wizards' that animagus forms were not to be trifled with. Cornelius had emphasized that Harry was not to blame for it, as his magic had kicked in to save him. A clever ruse, Severus thought - likely Hugo's.

The reporters had even gotten the story straight and had been glowing in their praise of Draco and Dudley. They'd sounded impressed at the speed that they had found Harry, and Severus smiled at their description of Rosemerta as being brilliantly clever to use Hedwig. All in all they were decent articles. Of course Rita Skeeter managed to coo over them and slash at them with her pen at the same time. Words like reckless and incompetent were used throughout the article. Harry would likely be steamed.

Breakfast was interrupted by a ministry owl. Severus took the letter and shooed the owl off. It was likely the minister hoping for an opportunity to visit and have his picture taken at Harry Potter's sickbed.

To Severus Snape

The Guardian of Harry Potter,

It has come to our attention that your ward, one Harry Potter, transformed into a bird in an area that could have contained muggles. He is not listed as an animagus.

We require you and your ward to present yourselves before the Wizengamot in an inquiry and possible prosecution on this coming Monday.

Dolores Umbridge,

Secretary to Section Chief

Auror Rufus Scrimgeour.

Severus had difficulty re-reading the letter through the red haze that crossed his vision. He was all too familiar with Rufus and that hateful bitch of a secretary was a smarmy terror to anyone that didn't agree totally with her view of the world.

Severus crumpled the parchment in his fist and allowed himself a hateful smirk that would have caused scores of students to faint or have hysterics. It was Saturday, by Monday he and Lucius and his kennel of lawyers would have plans in place to devastate Rufus and his pit-bull secretary's schemes.

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