Meddle not...

[aetherialDawn]

There has to be some reason why Dementors do what they do, and it's either this -- them gaining a form of sustenance -- or they're a terror weapon.

I'd believe either one, honestly, but it's not hard to see why a lot of readers believe they eat souls.

Click to shrink...

It is possible that the Dementor's immediate presence and damage to the capacity for happiness and peace can be amplified by proximity to the point that the 'Dementor's Kiss' causes someone to very shortly die of despair, but this is not much better.

After a bit of research: The idea that Dementors consume or annihilate the soul appears to be implied but not confirmed in the books, and yes, if Ron Weasley is an Auror then by the timeline the British Ministry of Magic will have stopped using Dementors.

This is good news! Although it makes it somewhat less likely that we'll get to see Zrazta incinerate a Dementor with her dragonbreath.

 

[IronyIsGood]

I had always thought that the souls contained memories,* including happy ones, meaning that the dementors suck souls out by accident.** Kind of like if you passed a powerful magnet over something that contained metal.
It was made pretty clear that the only one that can even slightly damage a soul is the owner of that soul, by committing murder.

*a backup of all of the memories in your head, so that when you're dead you can still remember what happened when you were alive, despite no longer having a brain.
**not that they wouldn't do it on purpose, but it seems to be a side effect of the way they feed.

 

[Hiver]

We reached the top of a spiral staircase and Weasley knocked on the door. A second later we got an 'enter' from the inside.

I followed Zrazta into the tower room and looked around. Books. Paintings all along one wall, and nice - rather warm - wooden furniture. I found that I rather liked it. At one side were stairs that led upwards into the tower, and straight ahead were windows... and a big desk where a woman was sitting.

Older, her previously black hair fading towards silver and pulled back into a tight bun.

"Headmistress," Weasley said, "We found the intruders. Professor Castle say they are visitors of hers that didn't know to sign in."

She stood up, "I see. Thank you, Mr Weasley."

"Just my job, Professor."

Alexis nodded and walked up to him, giving the same explanation as before, "…I didn't think to have everyone sign in last night, we were on our way to when Aurors Weasley and Greengrass happened onto Sarah," she said, finishing the explanation, "Sorry."

The woman pursed her lips but nodded, "Very well," she said and turned to us, "I am Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry. Your names, if you please?"

I smiled at her and stepped up to offer her my hand, "Atreus Malygos. This is my wife, Sarah. I'm sorry for the trouble we caused. We attempted to surprise Alexis… Professor Castle. We didn't realize we needed to sign in, even if in hindsight it's obvious."

She nodded, "Very well. You can do so now. Miss Castle?"

"Yes, Headmistress?"

"I take it this won't happen again?"

Alexis cringed, but nodded, "No, Ma'am. I'll take care of it."

"Very well, I think that's that sorted out," she said with a nod, "Mr Weasley, now if that business is concluded, could you a spare a moment to talk about Rose?"

He nodded, "Sure. Daphne, would you…?"

"Sure thing, see you back at headquarters. Professors, Mr and Mrs Malygos," she said and left. Alexis motioned for us to follow her as she also walked out.


XXXXXXX


The castle looked different in the daylight. A lot less creepy at the very least, but no less strange.

"Well, glad that's cleared out," Alexis sighed as we made our way along the corridor, "And now I'm late. Awesome."

"Sorry," I said with a smile, "Maybe we could help?"

Alexis shook her head with a sigh, "No. Thanks for the offer, but I'm not sure that will work. You two go explore or something, just be careful. I need to hunt down some coffee."

Zrazta nodded, "We will explore. Is there a library?"

"Yeah… uhm…. Two floors up and that way... I think?" Alexis answered, then rubbed her eyes and wandered off, leaving us alone.

"This way then?" Zrazta asked and started to head to the right, only for me to catch her and pull her close, nuzzling at her hair as I hugged her close.

She's safe.

Zrazta turned around and leaned against me, putting her head against my shoulder, "I'm sorry. They surprised me."

"Not that," I sighed and looked down at her, "Do you have any ideas how many times that's happened to me?"

"Yes."

I smiled at her, "You would, wouldn't you? Then you know that it happens. This kind of traveling is dangerous, we have to watch each other's tails," I said before I sighed, "It's just when I saw you on the floor, I got so afraid."

Zrazta smiled back softly, "I'm fine," and reached up to run her fingers through my hair, "Even if keeping these forms constantly is getting tedious, and I miss your beautiful wings."

"We'll find somewhere to turn back safely," I promised her, "Maybe the forest, we'll ask Alexis if she knows of anywhere when she finishes today's classes."

She nodded, "Yes. And I know you find this world interesting and I do too, but… we can hardly do anything or risk discovery. Can we leave soon? Not yet, but…"

This was amazingly fascinating, but I could always come back later. The entire point of this entire thing was to spend time with Zrazta after all.

I smiled, "Another couple of days, then how about we start back towards home slowly, taking a detour past Kaldesh on the way?"

Zrazta smiled back, "Want to see… what was her name, Saheeli Rai?"

I shrugged. "Would be nice to check in on her, but I want to see what other fun toys that can be found there," I admitted with a grin, "I like that Plane."

Zrazta smirked, "And it has nothing to do with the artificing mortal, whom I understand from Alexis is quite attractive?"

Growling at her slightly, I pulled her close, "I know where you are ticklish."



AN// Many thanks to Drunkenvalley for betaing this part.

 

[Lalzparty]

Fluff!

 

[Krazyfan1]

Cue Peeves

 

[aetherialDawn]

Everyone's being so reasonable. It's pretty great.
I suspect that, positive resolution aside, Zrazta and Atregos no longer want to hang around their discovery of magic on Earth after this first experience; it's not anything personal, but they've had an unpleasant scare, they've achieved their goals for now, and (this one is said in the chapter directly) they're tired of being restricted to human shape.

I suspect that Atregos will be interested in the unusually large and stable spatial-expansion enchantments wizards have... and will still count laptops and scanners as the superior invention - which actually might mean he won't use them, since the wizard method of magic interferes with technology.

 

[Clarvel]

Why didn't they say anything about the door being unlocked or unguarded or whatever?

 

[Gindjurra]

Cue Peeves

Click to shrink...

AKA Renegade interrupt.

Actually, any ghost would do, though it's worth noting that there are non-hostile undead in Azeroth, and many of the non-hostiles are ghosts.

Why didn't they say anything about the door being unlocked or unguarded or whatever?

Click to shrink...

Odds are, your house has an unlocked door placed relative to both the front gates and the front door of Hogwarts. Hogwarts operates on a citadel defense model when attacked, which is large lightly secured areas with selected heavily secured areas. In peacetime, those defenses are lowered, creating unsecured areas for customer convenience.

Extending the analogy to people's houses in muggle areas, the Hogwarts grounds are, essentially, the same as your neighborhood. Some people live in walled neighborhoods, some of which have gates, but most don't have guards even at the gates. Many neighborhoods are even less secured than that.

The unlocked front door Atregos and Zrazta went through is analogous to the gate in the fence around your yard. Very few people lock those, though some do and anyone can if they're feeling a need for heightened security.

The first lock most people encounter when approaching a house these days is the front door, which, following citadel defense planning, is a secured area of living quarters. The password-locked common rooms, password-locked teacher's quarters and so forth are the Hogwarts equivalent of your front door.

 

[aetherialDawn]

AKA Renegade interrupt.

Actually, any ghost would do, though it's worth noting that there are non-hostile undead in Azeroth, and many of the non-hostiles are ghosts.



Odds are, your house has an unlocked door placed relative to both the front gates and the front door of Hogwarts. Hogwarts operates on a citadel defense model when attacked, which is large lightly secured areas with selected heavily secured areas. In peacetime, those defenses are lowered, creating unsecured areas for customer convenience.

Extending the analogy to people's houses in muggle areas, the Hogwarts grounds are, essentially, the same as your neighborhood. Some people live in walled neighborhoods, some of which have gates, but most don't have guards even at the gates. Many neighborhoods are even less secured than that.

The unlocked front door Atregos and Zrazta went through is analogous to the gate in the fence around your yard. Very few people lock those, though some do and anyone can if they're feeling a need for heightened security.

The first lock most people encounter when approaching a house these days is the front door, which, following citadel defense planning, is a secured area of living quarters. The password-locked common rooms, password-locked teacher's quarters and so forth are the Hogwarts equivalent of your front door.

Click to shrink...

This all makes perfect sense (and is informative in general!) - except for one aspect that doesn't match up to the reaction.

When someone is in an unsecured area of my property and I wish them to leave, the first resort is to ask them to depart. Calling the police and desiring them to come in with tasers ready is at least one resort later.
(I would argue that wands are theoretically closer to guns ready, but the cultural expectation is clearly stunners and not any of the lethal options so they are treated in practice as more akin to tasers. Also, the lack of stunner-only wands means that it is wands or nothing.)

This has also been my experience working with educational institutions - calling the police comes one step later, though depending on the specifics it might happen automatically. Whether the intent is to call the police or not, if the person seems safe to approach, then someone associated with the institution approaches them first.

Normally I would offer that Apparition might make it much easier for an Auror to come along, but Hogwarts wards significantly reduce that convenience.
Dumbledore isn't Headmaster anymore, but I would also expect Hogwarts to remain fairly independent after the war - independence was very successful for them, and the times Ministry enforcement came to Hogwarts were largely unpleasant.
Or maybe without rampant corruption focusing Ministry efforts on enriching Malfoy and company, they had the resources to make a closer relationship with Hogwarts, possibly starting with new 'when you have Voldemort/Basilisks/Dementors/Blood Quills YOU WILL INFORM THE PARENTS' legislation.

EDIT: Long term, I'm very excited to see what twenty years did - and failed to do - to the British wizarding world. It creates exciting mysteries!

EDIT TWO: Corrected a handful of spelling/grammar errors. Original post was on the phone.

 

[Rinn]

This all makes perfect sense - except for one aspect.

When someone is in an unsecured area of my property and I wish them to leave, the first resort is to ask them to depart. Calling the police and desiring them to come in with tasers ready is at least one resort later.
(I would argue that wands are theoretically closer to guns ready, but the cultural expectation is clearly stunners and not any of the lethal options so they are treated in practice as more akin to tasers. Also they don't have stunner-only wands.)

This has also been my experience working with educational institutions - calling the police comes one step later, though depending on the specifics it might happen automatically. If the person seems safe to approach, then someone associated with the institution approaches them first.

Click to shrink...

See, there's a problem with this idea, too; Atreus and Zrazta showed up late at night, got spotted and reported by portraits, then promptly (from the viewpoint of any potential staff investigators) vanished. Nobody knew where (in the gigantic, possibly non-euclidean castle) the 'intruders' vanished off to. After several hours where nobody spotted them in the halls and nobody saw them leave, then I would hope that they would go to the 'one resort later' of calling in the Aurors for a more intensive search. Having them come in 'tasers ready' is common sense at that point; these intruders with unknown intentions have had hours of uninterrupted time to do who knows what to a school. A bit of caution is warranted at this point, especially since there's apparently something shady going on in the greater wizarding community (Ron made a one-off comment, IIRC).

 

[aetherialDawn]

See, there's a problem with this idea, too; Atreus and Zrazta showed up late at night, got spotted and reported by portraits, then promptly (from the viewpoint of any potential staff investigators) vanished. Nobody knew where (in the gigantic, possibly non-euclidean castle) the 'intruders' vanished off to. After several hours where nobody spotted them in the halls and nobody saw them leave, then I would hope that they would go to the 'one resort later' of calling in the Aurors for a more intensive search. Having them come in 'tasers ready' is common sense at that point; these intruders with unknown intentions have had hours of uninterrupted time to do who knows what to a school. A bit of caution is warranted at this point, especially since there's apparently something shady going on in the greater wizarding community (Ron made a one-off comment, IIRC).

Click to shrink...

I just took a look, and I can't find a mention in the text of them disappearing - in fact, until they enter Alexis's room and are met as known friends by her, it's quite clear that there are portraits observing them. They don't vanish at any point; in fact, their location seems to be clearly tracked by the portraits since those portraits are deliberately not moving - which is almost certainly how Weasley and Greengrass located them, being told where they are by the portraits.

(Oddly enough, they don't seem to have been clearly told that these people are 'obviously Muggles!' because they expect non-moving portraits. Or, more likely, assume that the portraits were incorrect because a known quantity was vouching for them in a way that fits their expectations.)

 

[Rinn]

I just took a look, and I can't find a mention in the text of them disappearing - in fact, until they enter Alexis's room and are met as known friends by her, it's quite clear that there are portraits observing them. They don't vanish at any point; in fact, their location seems to be clearly tracked by the portraits since those portraits are deliberately not moving - which is almost certainly how Weasley and Greengrass located them, being told where they are by the portraits.

(Oddly enough, they don't seem to have been clearly told that these people are 'obviously Muggles!' because they expect non-moving portraits. Or, more likely, assume that the portraits were incorrect because a known quantity was vouching for them in a way that fits their expectations.)

Click to shrink...

Just looked back again, myself. While they were tracked to Alexis office and quarters (which are very oddly missing an en suite bathroom), they still disappeared for a while, and were left unsupervised in a teacher's quarters, without announcing themselves or signing in. That's suspect enough to call in reinforcements, I should think.

 

[aetherialDawn]

Just looked back again, myself. While they were tracked to Alexis office and quarters (which are very oddly missing an en suite bathroom), they still disappeared for a while, and were left unsupervised in a teacher's quarters, without announcing themselves or signing in. That's suspect enough to call in reinforcements, I should think.

Click to shrink...

They met Alexis at the door. They didn't disappear: They were in a known room.
For that matter, Alexis may have a portrait in her quarters, or the staff finally started to make use of a Marauder's Map equivalent themselves, in which case they'd be tracked even more precisely.

Actually, speaking of the Marauder's Map - I do wonder what name would appear on it for Atregos? I suspect that it would show 'Atregos' with no family name, matching dragon naming conventions - the current state of his soul, body, magic, and mind has been named Atregos, so I doubt that the Map would register anything wrong with labeling him that. The other option is that the map operates based on some sort of database/archive/book/record, in which case it might display Atregos as '???' or blank because he's probably not in any Wizarding database, let alone whatever particular database the Map draws from. If it's just the first name he announced in the school, I suppose it would show 'Atreus Malygos'. And Zrazta may in that case someday want to change her registry of 'Sarah'.

 

[Gindjurra]

When someone is in an unsecured area of my property and I wish them to leave, the first resort is to ask them to depart. Calling the police and desiring them to come in with tasers ready is at least one resort later.

Click to shrink...

Your property is probably not a boarding school full of young children. And some people do exactly that for even the most innocuous things -- there was an incident not too long ago where the police were called on a black man for 'prowling' around houses in a predominantly white upper-middle to upper class neighborhood. He was mowing lawns and had a groundskeeping truck with the logo of the groundskeeping company he worked for on it. And multiple people still called the police on him.

obviously Muggles!

Click to shrink...

Actually, that's one thing that can be conclusively ruled out. Hogwarts has very extensive, multi-layered anti-muggle wards. The only way a muggle could enter the place and stay in it would be if they were brought in by a witch or wizard and prevented from fleeing. Which is obviously not the case, especially when the two split up.

 

[aetherialDawn]

Your property is probably not a boarding school full of young children. And some people do exactly that for even the most innocuous things -- there was an incident not too long ago where the police were called on a black man for 'prowling' around houses in a predominantly white upper-middle to upper class neighborhood. He was mowing lawns and had a groundskeeping truck with the logo of the groundskeeping company he worked for on it. And multiple people still called the police on him.

Click to shrink...

It's certainly possibly that Hogwarts has more restrictive or more racist policies, but as I've already mentioned my own experience with educational institutions is that even when calling the police, if things seem remotely safe, they send someone of their own staff to make contact first as well. Given that Hogwarts actually has a groundskeeper and the like, it's not as if they can't.

Actually, that's one thing that can be conclusively ruled out. Hogwarts has very extensive, multi-layered anti-muggle wards. The only way a muggle could enter the place and stay in it would be if they were brought in by a witch or wizard and prevented from fleeing. Which is obviously not the case, especially when the two split up.

Click to shrink...

With regards to your quote of me: I would prefer that you included my own 'single quotes' around the phrase. Whether intended by you or not, your quote to me looks like quote mining.
The only truly certain reference I can find to muggle parents approaching Hogwarts is, unfortunately, made by Tom Riddle and therefore quite suspect.
The idea that the anti-Muggle wards could fail seems, to me, no less likely than that a wizard could adopt muggle attitudes towards pictures... though I suppose it could have been taken as evidence that they're Muggleborn wizards who didn't go to a wizarding school?

 

[Hiver]

"So, you have to use a foci to use this kind of magic?" I asked Alexis, looking at her across her desk as she corrected essays.

"That's 'not' how you spell electricity," she mumbled scribbled something down on the essay and then looked up at me, nodding, "Yep. Only way that I found. Mind, I'm not that good at magic in general, but nobody else seems to be able to use it without one other than some specific abilities."

I frowned and leaned back in my chair, "That's… odd."
"No kidding. It's like no other magic I've tried," Alexis sighed, "You speak the spell, do a wand movement and think of what you want to happen. All three are needed or it doesn't work."

"The fuck?"

That's not how magic works. That's not at all how magic works! You shape the magic into the spell or effect, kind of weaving it in your mind. Sure, you can use chanting or words or movements to help as mnemonic tools but that's for talentless hacks!

Alexis shrugged, "Don't ask me, I have no idea. You're the magic researcher here, you figure it out."

I rubbed the bridge of my nose, "I'm going to need a Wand, aren't I? Can I borrow yours?"

She shook her head, "Doesn't work like that I think. Each wand is different and meant for one owner."

"Of course it is," I sighed, "Where can I get one?"

"You can buy one in the Diagon Alley in London. It's a place wher…"

"We saw it, looking for you. Somewhere there then. How do we get there?"

Alexis blinked, "Oh, easiest way is the floo network. We can go tomorrow, it's Saturday so no classes. I need to do some more shopping anyway and I bet there is a place Zrazta would like to visit."

I grinned at that, "Potion store."

"Potion store, "Alexis agreed with a smile, "And I bet there are some books you want to look at too."

"…Maybe. Uhm, anywhere you can sell jewellery for whatever alien space money that is used here?"

"Alien space money?" she giggled and shook her head, "Forget it, my treat. God knows that I owe you enough money as it is."

"Alexis, you helped save a world. You owe me nothing."

She just waved her hand to dismiss it and returned to her work with a smile.

"Speaking of which, " Zrazta spoke up from the chair by the fire where she was curled up with a book on potions, "Is there a place we can turn back?"

Alexis blinked at her and then frowned in thought, "Maybe the forest. How long have you been in human forms?"

"Two weeks."

"You have to be pretty uncomfortable," Alexis said with a nod, "I know how dragons get after too long not being dragons. The forest should be fine as long as you stay away from the edge and go at night, nobody goes in there, there are lots of dangerous creatures in there, but none that really should be any trouble for either of you."

I glanced out the window, the sun was already setting, "So… food and then go?" I suggested, looking over at Zrazta with a smile.

She nodded and smiled back before looking over at Alexis, "Want to come?"

Alexis looked between us and then shook her head, "Nope, you two go have fun, I'm going to bed early. But Atreus has the right idea, we should get something to eat," she said before she frowned, "Wait, what did you two eat today?"

I shrugged, "Packed supplies. Just explored the castle and stayed out of everyone's way. We never did find the library."

All in all, it had been a rather nice relaxing day to be honest.

"We could skip the food and just go hunting in the forest?" Zrazta suggested, "There has to be something good in there."

Alexis stuck her tongue out, "Not unless you like giant spiders or centaurs."

"Centaurs taste okay," Zrazta said with a shrug, "At least Azerothian ones. Never tried spiders."

Alexis stared at her for a moment, pinching the bridge of her nose before closing her eyes, looking mildly disgusted, "…I keep forgetting you guys are dragons."

I smirked at her, "We should likely eat here anyway, hunting without flying sucks anyway."

I don't like the idea of eating thinking beings anyway. At least not outside battle.

"True," Zrazta agreed and closed her book, "So where do we eat?"

"Great hall," Alexis said and shuffled the completed essays into a pile, "Gives me a chance to introduce you guys to the other teachers," she said with a smile, "Besides, the food's great here."

I nod, "Eat, then forest, and tomorrow we head to the alley and see what we can find. Sounds like a plan."




AN// Many thanks to Firethorn for betaing this part.

 

[Malbutorius]

I want to see someone follow them into the forest because "Golly, these two are awfully suspicious showing up out of nowhere and wandering off into the forest at night! I better go follow them." And then BOOM! Dragons! Explain it!

Mostly I just like the whole "Explaining them being dragons" thing.

 

[Goat]

Someone seeing dragons in the forest is pretty much a given.

 

[aetherialDawn]

Someone seeing dragons in the forest is pretty much a given.

Click to shrink...

Honestly, I'm wondering how long it is until they've said too much where the portrait gossip/spy network can hear them (and what fascinating wrong conclusions the portraits will draw before then.) Nobody has warned them yet that Wizarding portraits are basically easily-distracted security cameras in addition to their other functions, have they?

 

[Gindjurra]

Someone seeing dragons in the forest is pretty much a given.

Click to shrink...

Azerothian dragons aren't like Potterverse dragons. The Hungarian Horntail Harry faced in the Triwizard first task would be considered a proto-drake by Azerothian standards. Proto-drakes are dragonkin, but about the same relation to a true dragon as a chimpanzee is to a human.

The first difference anyone would see is that Potterverse dragons (and Azerothian proto-drakes) have four limbs and a tail -- the wings are part of the front legs. Azerothian dragons have six limbs plus tail, the wings are exclusively wings.

True dragons are smarter, more magical, all around more dangerous, but above all, true dragons are larger. Atregos is essentially a teenager, and about as large as that Horntail Harry faced. Zrazta makes that Horntail look like a hatchling.

The leaders of the Flights are ginormous. As in, an A380 looks kinda puny next to one.

 

[TLPG]

I want to see someone follow them into the forest because "Golly, these two are awfully suspicious showing up out of nowhere and wandering off into the forest at night! I better go follow them." And then BOOM! Dragons! Explain it!

Mostly I just like the whole "Explaining them being dragons" thing.

Click to shrink...

OMG, you can't just ask people why they're a dragon.

 

[Gindjurra]

OMG, you can't just ask people why they're a dragon.

Click to shrink...

Sure you can. It's no different than asking a witch or wizard why they're a human.

 

[Tarantio]

I want to see someone follow them into the forest because "Golly, these two are awfully suspicious showing up out of nowhere and wandering off into the forest at night! I better go follow them." And then BOOM! Dragons! Explain it!

Mostly I just like the whole "Explaining them being dragons" thing.

Click to shrink...

Meh they'll just think they are dragon animagus.

 

[Melakias]

Meh they'll just think they are dragon animagus.

Click to shrink...

If you can become a dragon animagus, why the fuck would you choose any other animal?

Because if you can be a dragon, be a dragon.
Unless you can be The Batman.

 

[malakish]

If you can become a dragon animagus, why the fuck would you choose any other animal?

Click to shrink...

Because you can't choose?