Chapter One

Dragon

Hermione flung herself at Ron as the mighty claw of the dragon flew towards him. Ron looked at the spot where he had just been. The Dragon's razor claws were dug into the ground where he'd just been standing. Ron was shaken and turned to look at Hermione. "Thanks." He murmured, reaching up to put his hand on the side of her cheek. This would have been a tender moment if it wasn't for the fact that the golden trio were fighting a dragon that protecting a horcux. Harry let out a yell as the dragon's tail narrowly missed him. Hermione snapped round to face her friend. "Harry! Look out!" She screamed as the dragon turned to face the boy-who-lived. They were trapped in a cave with the beast and, although the dragon was chained to the wall, it could still move easily. The dragon blew a jet of fire towards Harry. Harry gasped and dived into the rocks, his ankle catching on a boulder. Suddenly the other rocks gave way and piled themselves on top of his leg. Harry let out a shout of agony as the rocks crushed his ankle. Hermione's eyes widened as she watched Harry be cornered. She didn't need to think twice before whipping out her wand. But, before she could yell out a spell, the chain holding the dragon broke and the beast let out a roar of triumph. The dragon turned and began to head towards the exit, where Hermione was standing. Ron looked from the dragon to Hermione, desperation written on his face. Hermione didn't move, fear rooting her to the ground. "Hermione!" Ron yelled as he dived for his friend. Ron pushed Hermione to the ground as the mighty dragon crashed out of the cave and took to the sky. For a moment, the two friends lay there, panting and watching the dragon fly away into the night.

Harry let out a gasp as the pain in his leg increased. Hermione started and remembered what they were there for. She looked up at Ron and pushed him off. Ron got to his feet, blush rising in his pale cheeks. "Sorry." He muttered. Hermione nodded and then hurried over to help Harry rubbing his on the back of his neck. Using a charm, Hermione removed the rocks and freed Harry's leg. She bent down and felt along his ankle. "I think it's broken." She told him. Harry groaned. "Great, now what!" He growled. Hermione smiled. I can fix it, with the healing spell." She told him. Harry nodded. Anything, please." He hissed. Hermione raised her wand and muttered a few words. A moment later and Harry was standing, his ankle good as new. He smiled gratefully at her and turned his attention to the horcux. "I'd better get started. Hopefully it won't take long." Harry said, pulling out his own wand and searching the cave.

Ron and Hermione stood at the cave entrance gazing up at the sky as dawn began to creep into existence. "Uh, thanks for saving me." She smiled. Ron retuned her smile. "I guess we're even." He said quietly. "There all done." Harry announced placing down a vase. It was blue and had an engraved gold R on it with a raven on either side of the letter. "That's another horcux done. It's the vase of raven claw." Hermione smiled. Ron nodded. "What about the dragon?" He asked. Hermione looked out into the morning sky. "We have to find it." She whispered. The trio looked out at the horizon.

The dragon swooped low over Cardiff and let out an ear shattering roar. Hermione looked up, shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand. The trio had split up to find the dragon. They had tracked it down to the Cardiff area. Harry was taking the outer city, Ron the outskirts and Hermione was taking the middle of Cardiff. She sighed heavily and raised her wand. She hated flying, but Harry had still bought her a broom. With a deep breath she uttered the words. "Accio Broomstick." A small delicate broom zoomed towards her. She mounted it, clinging on tightly. She kicked off and went zooming off after the dragon. She followed it, swerving and diving.

The dragon roared again and began to head towards an abandoned warehouse. Hermione hissed in annoyance and dived after it. The big steel doors were open and the dragon flew through the doors. Hermione landed her broom and put a hand to her forehead. She HATED flying and the flight made her feel ill. With a couple of deep breaths, Hermione's stomach settled and she stepped into the warehouse. The Dragon glared at her and hissed. Hermione looked around. The warehouse had 4 doors, one was locked from the outside. The other three, including the one she had just come in by, were wide open. Hermione waved her wand and the doors slammed shut, not locked. The dragon's red eyes surveyed the warehouse. Seeing the doors were shut, it roared in frustration. Hermione raised her wand to deal with the dragon.