Alexandra Weasley: Book 5

11

The trip to Romania was three hours, but felt like forever for Alex. She sat next to Hermione on the aisle seat, Bill sitting just a gap away in the middle row.
"Can't believe Charlie never told me you have a dragon." He whispered, leaning over. "And since when do you have a unicorn?" Alex huffed and opened her bag. She pulled out the picture of her, Kichiro and Saphira that Charlie had once taken and held it out to him. "Is that a foal?"

"He's not a foal. That's all you get." She snatched the picture back.

"Oh come on, Alex. It's just me. When did you stop trusting me?"

"I don't not trust you." She said. "I don't mistrust you."

"Yeah, but you don't trust me either. You used to think I hung the moon for you."

"I can assure you, I've never thought that."

"Metaphorically." He added and she shrugged. "We were always close. But then we lost you and you came back different. Still the same heart, but distant."

"Well, it wasn't a fun year. And I don't want to talk about it."

"You never want to talk about anything." She looked downcast. There was a possibility that she missed Bill too. He had been her favourite once upon a time, and it was hard icing him out.

Reaching the reserve, Alex ran ahead following her bond to find Saphira rather than waiting to be directed.
"Saph." She said, reaching the sleeping dragon. Saphira's eyes opened, and she blinked blearily. Alex touched her face.

Hello, Alex.

"How are you feeling?" Alex asked. "Charlie said you're sick."

Your brother's blowing everything out of proportion. Besides I'm feeling much better. Alex let out a teary laugh.

"My brother says your magic's declining."

I'm telling you. He's dramatic. Saphira noticed Hermione and looked up at her.

"Hi, Saph." Hermione greeted. "It's been a while." Saphira sat up and moved her head inches away from Hermione. "Did Alex tell you we were worried?"

"Very worried." Alex agreed. Saphira shook her head before tilting her head into the air and snorting out a pillar of fire. "She thinks Charlie was dramatic."

I am absolutely fine. I can prove it. She crouched low, preparing to fly and then soared into the air, making loops and twists before coming back down.

"Okay, maybe Charlie made a mistake." Alex said.

Or maybe I just belong with you.

"Hey, was that Saphira flying?" Charlie ran over and Alex nodded.

"I thought you said she was sick."

"She was. She could hardly move for weeks." Alex turned back to Saphira.

Well, I suppose I've been a little tired. She admitted. But not anymore.

"She says she was tired but isn't anymore."

"Well, I can take a measure of her magical energy." Charlie offered. "You know the drill, girl. Gonna need some of your blood."

None of the other dragons lose as much blood as me. Saphira said, almost childishly.

"That's because you were sick." Charlie glanced at Alex once.

"Is she okay?"

"Yeah. Doesn't like it much."

"Who would?" Hermione said petting the length of Saphira's nose. "Blood tests suck, don't they?"

That man also smells like Charlie. Should I frighten him?

"No, that's okay. Bill's cool. And this is Tonks next to him." Alex said. "She's a... family friend." She turned to Bill and Tonks. "Guys, this is Saphira."

"All done." Charlie said. Saphira looked back, trying to catch a glimpse of where the needle had gone in. "Moment of truth."

"Saph, you'll get dizzy." Hermione giggled as she kept turning around, looking for the wound. Saphira huffed out a breath and laid down on her belly.

"Huh, she's looking a lot healthier. She was still sick last night." Charlie looked baffled.

"Saph, what's going on?" Alex asked.

I think we're too far away. She said. I'm connected to you.

"I'm sorry Saph. You wanna come back to Hogwarts?"

Not where you found me. Some other part.

"Of course." Alex agreed.

"Is this normal?" Tonks whispered to Bill. "Does she always talk to dragons?"

"It's only because Saphira can understand us." Hermione explained, overhearing. "Look, Saph roar if you know what I'm saying." Saphira tilted her head up and let out a roar.

"And Alex here can understand her back." Charlie added. "Some sort of bond."

"That's why she was sick. She and I are connected now, and Romania's too far away from England."

"Oh, is that it girl? You miss my sister?" He asked. "Well we'll have to figure out where to put you."

"The forest near school's big. I'm sure we can find someplace." Alex said.

"Or she could be our school mascot." Hermione grinned.

"She could!" Alex agreed. She turned to Saph. "And you can pretend to eat Danny. He was the boy who was there the day Charlie took you."

What is a mascot?

"You'll be the animal to represent our school."

"Dumbledore would never let you have a dragon for a school mascot. It would cause hysteria amongst students and their parents." Charlie grinned. "But it would be sick."

"That sucks." Alex pouted. "Hermione, we should start a petition!"

"And for every signature we could throw in a badge for S.P.E.W."

"Yeah." Alex agreed.

"You can't ask Saph to scare anyone though. Okay, Saph? If Alex asks you to be mean to someone, you have to say no."

"She makes no promises." Hermione shook her head fondly, hugging Saphira's neck.

"We're glad you're okay, Saph. Really glad." Saphira nuzzled into the embrace.

I don't die easy. She said. You'll see. Alex translated for her and Hermione tightened her hold.

"Hallo. Um, Sa-fy-ra, is it?" Tonks asked.

"Sa-fee-ra." Alex corrected.

"Sorry, Sa-fee-ra." She said, slowly, her hair changing to match Saphira's hide.

She changed! Saphira said, delighted. What more can she change?

A/N- Favourite line "She could be our school mascot."

I swear, I want her to be the school mascot so baddd 😭 I'm not evil, I wasn't going to kill off Saph, don't worry. We love Saphira, and she's too innocent. She survived a thousand years being chained. I'm not going to put her through any more bad. I can't. But, Saph's coming to Hogwarts though so woo! Anyways, good luck you guys, cos this is one of the few good things to happen over the course of the book 😗