Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing Goes to Hogwarts ❯ Gift ( Chapter 16 )

Chapter 16: Gift

“I want to meet Gift!” Alexa exclaimed loudly, stamping her foot.

“Me, too!” Jett cried and the lamps rattled.

Heero gave her a stern look and turned to Quatre. “We can't all go trooping out into the woods to look for Gift,” he said. “Why can't you just go get him and bring him here?”

“He might not want to come.”

“He'll come if you ask him, Mama,” Roku said. “I think he's scared of you.”

“And well he should be,” Duo muttered.

“What was that?”

“Nothing!”

“That might be better in the long run,” Trowa said. “With the appeal so close, I'm not sure I can get Hagrid to leave right now.”

“And I have to study for finals,” Roku added.

“Study?!” Duo snorted. “You already know everything.”

“But I like studying with Harry and he doesn't already know everything.”

“You are very thoughtful,” Hadeya said.

Roku grinned.

“Oh, very well,” Quatre said. “I'll go get him. I've already planned the final exam for my class anyway.”

“Yay!” Alexa and Jett cheered. “We get to meet Gift!” The lamps rattled again. Jett ducked her head.

“I'll go tell Harry,” Roku said. “I bet he'd like to meet a talking dragon, too.”

“I think everyone at Hogwarts will want to meet a talking dragon,” Treize said. “From what I've heard, the dragons of this time are just dumb beasts with violent tendencies.”

“Sort of like Heero on a bad day,” Duo muttered.

“What?!”

“Nothing!”

So early the next morning, Quatre turned into a falcon and swooped out the window of their common room. He found Gift's cave fairly easily and banked in for a landing in the small clearing in front, shimmering back into his own form as he landed.

“Gift! Are you home?”

After a moment, Gift appeared at the mouth of the cave. He blinked at Quatre in complete surprise. “Good day to thee, Sorcerer!” Gift rumbled. A trickle of smoke curled out of one nostril. “I must confess thou art the last person I expected to see this morning.”

“I imagine so,” Quatre said. “I was wondering if you had time for a visit. We have new members of our family who would like to meet you, along with a few others.”

“A social call?” Gift chuckled. “Such an invitation is seldom extended to a dragon by one such as thee. Methinks I must accommodate you for the sheer novelty of the request.” He slithered all the way out of the cave and flared his wings. “In truth, I have been awake but a few seasons and am still somewhat sleepy. Pleasant conversation and perhaps a fight or two would be most welcome. Tell me, are thy companions Chang Wu-Fei and Heero Yuy still with thee?”

“Yes and I am sure they would be happy to engage you in a sparring match or two.”

Gift's forked tongue flicked out between his sharp teeth. “That is a pleasing thought. Lead the way, Sorcerer.”

Quatre shimmered back into a falcon and leaped into the sky. Gift followed with a mighty flap of his wide wings. They arrived back at Hogwarts at mid-morning under a brilliant sky with klaxons blaring from the castle spires. Several teachers, including Hagrid, rushed out onto the lawn outside the castle entrance to meet this new threat while students peered out excitedly. Quatre landed in front of Gift and shifted back into his own form.

“There's nothing to be alarmed about!” Quatre called out. “This dragon is a friend of mine.”

“A friend?” Dumbledore asked, his brow wrinkled. “Dragons are dangerous creatures…”

“Gift isn't dangerous,” Quatre said quickly.

“Indeed?” Dumbledore eyed the handsome dragon curiously.

“Excuse me,” Professor McGonagall interrupted with a frown. “Are you an animagus, Professor Winner?”

“Oh.” Quatre looked sheepish. “You might say that.”

“And your animal form is a falcon?”

“Yes, that's right.” Quatre blinked several times.

Roku, Alexa, Jett and the other Gundam pilots came out onto the lawn and joined Quatre and Gift.

“Hello, Gift!” Roku greeted the dragon. “How have you been? Have you been awake long? You remember everybody, right? But you haven't met Alexa, Jett or Hadeya. Alexa is Treize and Zechs daughter. Jett is my sister but Papa Duo is her Mama and everybody else is her Papa. Hadeya is Papa Heero's son. His mother is the goddess Freya but you probably haven't met her. We came to Hogwarts so I could study magic with Harry Potter. Have you heard of him? He's kind of famous. It's really great to see you! Did you ever meet that female dragon?”

Gift blinked. “Thy capacity for speech leaves one breathless!”

Dead silence fell and all of the teachers and students within hearing stared with their mouths open.

“Did I not mention that part?” Quatre asked. “Gift can talk.”

“Lordy!” Hagrid exclaimed to Trowa, a reverent expression on his face, “when yer told me that yeh knew a talking dragon, I thought maybe it was just yer ability that let yeh talk to `im!”

“Is this some kind of sorcery of yours, Professor Winner?” Snape said with a disbelieving sniff. He made the title `Professor' sound like an insult.

Gift snorted smoke out of both nostrils. “It takes no sorcery for a dragon to speak! We are God's greatest creation so any meager talent possessed by a lowly creature like thee flowers that much the greater in dragons!”

Snape's eyes opened wide and his face turned bright red.

Several students crowded out through the entrance. Harry, Ron and Hermione approached Gift nervously. A panicked-looking Draco crept along behind them, gesturing sharply for Crabbe and Goyle to follow him, but the plump boys hung back, leaving Draco to creep forward on his own.

“This is amazing!” Ron exclaimed. “Charlie will never believe it! He's been working with dragons for years and never met any that could talk!”

“That does not surprise me,” Gift rumbled. He lowered his head to peer at Ron. “These modern dragons are a diminished breed. I attribute it to inbreeding.”

“Inbreeding?”

“Aye.” Gift settled onto his belly and crossed his forelegs. “I blame men.”

“Men?” Ron scratched his head. “Why?”

“I suspect men of interbreeding with dragons. It is the only way I can account for their decreased mental capacity and short tempers.”

Ron blinked several times. “Men… interbreeding… with dragons?” he stammered. “But how?”

Gift pointed a clawed finger at Quatre. “Ask him.”

Quatre started. “Me? I know nothing about it. I did not engage in any breeding programs in the past.”

“Note how he says `in the past',” Zechs remarked sourly.

“I did notice that,” Treize replied.

“However,” Gift said with a sly grin, “is your son not a tiger?”

“Well…” Quatre flushed. “That's true, but what has that to do with anything?”

Gift shrugged. “I merely note the precedent.”

“Gift would make a good lawyer,” Duo said.

“While you make a valid point,” Trowa interrupted, “we had nothing specifically to do with dragons and men possibly interbreeding.”

“Using the words `specifically' and `possibly' does not entirely exempt us from involvement,” Wu-Fei pointed out. “You should make a more definitive statement like `We had nothing to do with it' or `Men cannot interbreed with dragons'.”

“Well,” Trowa rubbed his chin. “I'm not positive men cannot interbreed with dragons, but I'm pretty sure we had nothing to do with it if it did happen.”

“Once again,” Wu-Fei said, “I must point out that `pretty sure' lacks conviction.”

“One moment,” Dumbledore spoke up. “Noble Dragon, you referred to modern dragons as being inferior. May I take that to imply that you are ancient?”

Gift dipped his head in the affirmative. “That is so, Master Sorcerer. I have existed for centuries, but I admit to spending a goodly portion of my time asleep.”

“I see.”

Gift turned to Wu-Fei. “What ho, Chang Wu-Fei! What say thee to a brief sparring match? Methinks a good match would shake the cobwebs out of my brain from my long sleep.”

Wu-Fei's eyes lit up. “A match? That sounds great! Hey, Roku! You have my katana don't you?”

“Yes, Papa Wu-Fei.” Roku produced the slender blade from under his left arm.

A flurry of exclamations greeted the appearance of Wu-Fei's sword.

“Where did you get that?” McGonagall said sternly. “It is strictly forbidden for a student to carry a weapon on campus!”

Roku blinked. “I was just storing it for Papa Wu-Fei, Professor.”

“Storing it where?” Snape snarled. He glowered at Roku. “I will not allow such items to be brought into my classroom!”

“Relax, Snape,” Professor Lupin said. He smiled at Roku. “I'm sure Mr. Winner would never brandish a weapon in class.”

“He doesn't need to!” Duo snorted.

McGonagall squinted at Roku. “Are you storing any other weapons for your family, Mr. Winner?”

“Well…” Roku licked his lips. “I might have one or two other items in storage, like Papa Heero's armor. He's a knight, you know.”

“A knight?!” McGonagall exclaimed.

“Yeah, he was knighted by King Arthur.”

As one, every Gundam pilot in the group put his hand over his face. Quatre groaned.

McGonagall stared. “Do you mean the King Arthur?”

“Um hmm. He didn't really have a round table, you know.”

“That's ridiculous!” Snape shouted. “None of you could have been alive in the time of King Arthur!”

“You're absolutely right, Professor Snape!” Quatre said quickly. “Just forget he ever said anything.”

Dumbledore's eyes were gleaming. “Yes, it would be insane to consider that such a thing might be possible,” he said, but the grin on his face rather belied that statement.

“Enough talk!” Gift interrupted. “Time to fight.” He stood up and backed up several paces to make room.

Wu-Fei strolled out in front of him, swinging his katana casually. “Please forgive me if I'm a little rusty. I've been teaching for the past few months and I confess to having not been practicing enough.”

“I, too, am out of shape,” Gift replied. “Let us begin slowly.”

“Very well.” Wu-Fei slid into a fighting stance with his left arm extended over his bent left knee and with his right arm curved above his head, his katana pointed toward Gift. Gift crouched down, his tail curled up over his back and his wings slightly extended. They held that pose for the space of three heartbeats and then leaped at each other with loud battle cries.

“That's going slow?!” Ron cried. His head whipped from side to side as he tried to follow the action.

“We should back up,” Duo said casually. “They'll probably start using fire any minute now.”

Right on cue, Gift shot a thin jet of fire at Wu-Fei. Wu-Fei rolled to avoid it and shot a blast of fire back. Gift ducked under the flame and tried to catch Wu-Fei with a blow from his tail. Wu-Fei leaped over the lashing tail, executing a flip with a half-turn in mid-air so he could slash the top of Gift's tail as he went by. Gift bellowed in pain and smacked Wu-Fei with a wing. Wu-Fei tumbled across the grass but landed on his feet. He charged forward, ducked under a swipe of sharp claws and slashed Gift across the chest. Gift cuffed him soundly with his other front foot right in the middle of his back in return and a gasp went up from the crowd.

“He'll be fine,” Duo said. “His scales will protect him.”

“Scales?” Ron's eyes were round as saucers.

An excited cheer went up as Wu-Fei rolled clear of Gift's claws and came up with his sword at the ready. Wu-Fei was sweaty and panting and Gift's sides were heaving.

“A good skirmish, Chang Wu-Fei!” Gift called out. “We have pricked each other a bit.”

Wu-Fei nodded. “That last blow knocked some of the wind out of me.”

“I am well pleased,” Gift said. He folded his wings and let his tail drop to the ground. “We should do this again, or perhaps Sir Heero would like a go.” Gift flicked his tongue in Heero's direction. “I recall that gentleman gave me a satisfactory contest as well.”

“I might have time for that,” Heero said, sounding rather pleased.

Jett trotted across the grass to stare up at Gift. “May I touch your wing, Mr. Dragon?”

“Of course, little one.” Gift folded a wing down so Jett could slide her fingers over the tough skin.

“It's so smooth!”

“That is to facilitate flight,” Gift acknowledged.

Alexa came over to touch Gift's wing and after that several students and teachers crowded forward to examine Gift more closely, although not everyone was brave enough to touch him. But Hagrid, Harry, Ron and Hermione were among those who were. Excitedly, they slid their fingers over the smooth scales and remarked on how something so hard could feel smooth and soft at the same time. Gift endured the examination with good humor.

Ron noticed Draco hanging at the rear of the group and an evil grin spread over his face. “I say, Draco,” he exclaimed loudly, “with your name meaning dragon, I would have thought you would be the first to want to make a closer acquaintance with Gift.”

Draco scowled. “I can see just fine from here.”

“Oh?” Ron snickered. “Are you sure you're not afraid?”

“I'm not afraid!” Draco snapped instantly and he pushed forward to the front of the group. He stopped directly in front of Gift and stared defiantly into the dragon's large eyes.

Gift blinked. “Thou art named for the mighty race of dragons, puny youth?”

Draco flinched as Gift's hot breath washed over him but he held his ground. “That's right. I'm Draco Malfoy. Our family is one of the oldest and finest families in the wizarding world.”

“Indeed?” Gift scratched his chin with a sharp claw. “I have not heard of thee.”

Ron snickered again and Draco threw him an angry look.

Gift chose that moment to reach out and grasp Draco by one shoulder and lift him from the ground. His long sharp claws dug into Draco's shoulder but did not puncture his skin.

“Wha…? “ Draco yelped in panic.

Gift held the frightened boy up close to his face. “An old family that names a child for dragons might be responsible for the decline in dragons,” he said suspiciously. “Perhaps I should call on thy household and question thine elders.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Ron said with a firm nod. He was grinning from ear to ear.

“My family has nothing to do with dragons!” Draco cried. “Put me down!”

“Thou doest seem a tad squeaky.”

“I didn't squeak!” Draco squeaked.

“That was a little piercing,” Trowa murmured.

“Jett could do better,” Roku said.

“You mean like this?” Jett squealed.

Everyone clapped their hands over their ears and Gift shot out a small jet of flame, singeing Draco's robes.

“Ah!” Draco cried, patting desperately at the smoldering patches.

Heero clapped a stern hand onto Jett's shoulder. “None of that, young lady!”

“Sorry.”

“Gift, please put Draco down before you set him on fire,” Quatre said.

Gift set Draco back on his feet. “My apologies, puny youth.”

“Stop calling me puny youth!”

“Thou art quite small.”

“So is everyone else compared to you!”

“That is a valid point.”

Draco clenched his fists.

Ron snickered again.

Hagrid smacked his big hand down onto Trowa's shoulder, nearly sending the young man to his knees. “This here's the best thing I e'er did see and that's a fact!” he exclaimed. “I would ne'er have imagined it and all.” He wiped a tear from his eye and shook his shaggy head. “A talking dragon! Just imagine it!”

“Why imagine?” Duo whispered. “He's right there.”

“It's a turn of phrase,” Wu-Fei whispered back.

Professor McGonagall finally clapped her hands. “I think that's quite enough for now, students. I think all of you have studying to do and we professors have exams to prepare. Everyone should get back to work.”

“But Professor…!” came a general moan from dozens of throats, not all of them students.

She clapped her hands firmly again. “Now, please!”

“Aw, man!”

With many people mostly walking backward, the crowd slowly began drifting back into the castle. The Gundam pilots remained behind.

“This was most entertaining,” Gift said. “I thank thee for inviting me, Master Sorcerer.”

“You're welcome,” Quatre said. “How long do you think you'll hang around?”

“Well, I was hoping for another sparring match with Sir Heero,” Gift said, blowing a thin stream of smoke in Heero's direction.

Heero grinned. “Didn't you say you have my armor, Roku? Could you get out my broadsword?”

“Sure.” Roku pulled the heavy-bladed weapon from under his arm.

Heero grasped the leather-bound grip firmly and gave it a few experimental swings.

“You know,” said Quatre, “I don't even think I can lift that thing.”

“You're so delicate,” Duo said.

Quatre pursed his lips. “Oh? Are you sure that's the phrasing you want to use?”

Duo blinked. “By delicate, of course, I meant refined and graceful.”

“I see.”

“Good save,” Treize murmured.

Heero and Gift stepped away from the others.

“We'll just battle a few rounds,” Heero said.

Sometime later, when the sun was sinking below the horizon and the torches had been lit in the castle, Heero dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.

“I think I'm getting a little tired,” he admitted.

Gift's head was drooping close to the ground. “Methinks I am ready to call it a day also.”

Sitting in a line against the base of the castle wall, the other Gundam pilots and their kids exchanged long looks.

“About damn time!” Duo announced. He stood up. “It's dinner time and we've just about cleaned out Roku's storage space.”

“Hmm,” said Gift. “I am a little hungry myself.”

“We'll have the kitchen send out a couple sides of beef,” Duo said.

“My thanks.” Gift settled down onto his belly. “Doest thou think anyone would mind if I spent the night on this spot?”

“Naw,” Duo waved a hand. “And if you see any guys in long black robes with icy cold breath, just set `em on fire.”

“Dementor flambé,” Trowa murmured.

“Doesn't sound appetizing,” Treize said.

“I know Wu-Fei wouldn't eat it,” said Zechs.

“Hey!”

“But Duo might,” Treize replied.

“Hey!”

“Roku would say they taste like moldy ghost,” Quatre muttered.

“Hunh…” Roku said thoughtfully.

“Don't even think about it!”

“I wasn't!”

“Right.”

“Let's go eat!” Alexa interrupted.

“Yeah!” Jett exclaimed.

Everybody winced.

“Oops.”

“Good night, Gift,” Quatre said and he pointedly started shoving people toward the torch-lit entrance.