Well, here is another chapter. I take liberties with things in case you didn’t notice. This is AU crossover for a reason.

Disclaimer/Notes: See previous chapter

Chapter 6: The possible conflict

Lance hissed. < Don’t worry. I won’t leave you that easily. What sort of guardian friend would I be? >

Without another word, she went invisible. Harry jumped.

“What spell did you use to do that?”

“I didn’t do anything. Dragons have their own brand of magic.” Ash explained.

“Oh?”

“Yes.” Ash said, still feeling the weight of her tiny claws. “Let’s go inside and find a compartment before they are all taken.”
“Sounds good to me.”

Lance nuzzled her face into his hair, causing Ash to smile fondly. They sat down on the plush seats, waiting.

In a few minutes, a plume of rainbow smoke issued from the scarlet train and they were off!

Both spent some time looking at the beautiful country they were passing, but soon, sheep and fields and mountains got a little tiresome.

The trip would take three days, so there were shower and restroom facilities on the train.

Ash pulled out a deck of cards and began playing solitaire. Perhaps he would get to know his new companion. It might be nice to have a friend. It wasn’t that Lance wasn’t a friend but… another one could not hurt.

“So, how did you find out you were a wizard? You aren’t from one of those long lines of magical families.” Harry said.

“You’re right. I’m not sure if I’m the first one in my family…” Ash replied. Lance flew around the room, visible now since there were no others. “So tell me. Why does everyone look shocked when they hear your name?”

Harry seemed frazzled at the question. “Supposedly, I defeated a great dark wizard when I was a baby. But I don’t’ remember anything except a flash of green light.”

“That’s odd.” Ash said. “Hmm… it must be horrible to be remembered for that.”

“I don’t remember anything. I feel like a fraud.”

“Oh, cheer up! Life will get better!” Ash reassured him. “Everything does. My mom is dead too.”

“I see.”

Harry wasn’t too sure. Hopefully, Hogwarts would not be like the Dursleys…

That would have to be the worst.

A plump witch pushing a cart of food entered the compartment, followed by a sullen looking redhead boy.

“Hello dears. Ron didn’t want to stay in his compartment, so he’s come to join you two.”
Ash raised his eyebrows but did not comment. This boy looked poor, only because his robes were shabby and his wand did not look right for him.

However, Ash wasn’t going to pick on him for that.

Ron’s eyes widened as he also noticed the little blue blur flying around the room. “What is that?”

< Lance! >

Lance immediately went invisible again. < I can’t believe I didn’t notice him. >

< You were having too much fun flying? >

< You could say that. >

“Hmm?” The witch looked puzzled. “I see nothing out of the ordinary. Well dears, want anything off the cart dears?”

Ash was reminded of a flight attendant. However, this was much better than freeze-dried rations any day. He picked several items and paid for them, Harry doing the same, while Ron held up a package of sandwiches.

“Well dears, if you want any more food, I’ll be up at the front.”

“Thank you.” Harry said politely, as Ash nodded.

It would be fun.

Ron talked about his own family for about fifteen minutes, after which Ash tuned out, disregarding it.

“So tell me?” Ron said. “Are you really Harry Potter?” About an hour had passed. Ron’s monologue had finally wound down.
Harry jumped a little. “Yes, that’s me.”
“Hmm…” The boy began scrutinizing. “You don’t look too special to me?”

Sighing, Harry showed the lightning bolt scar. “Happy now?”
“Wow! Did it hurt?”

“Obviously.” Ash said, cutting into the conversation. “Wouldn’t anything that left a scar hurt?”

“Personal experience, huh?” Ron asked, standing up. “Unlike you, my family is pure-blood all the way.”

Harry shook his head. Ron had seemed sulky upon entrance, refusing some of the snacks Harry had offered, and now, he seemed to be looking to pick a fight. But with five brothers, maybe he felt left out. Ron had explained how his three brothers had thrown him out.

Two of them were already at work elsewhere.

Still, Harry didn’t think Ron would judge someone based on blood. He himself couldn’t care less.

Ash closed the book of curses he had been reading. “Oh?”

“Yes! We’ve been Gryffindors forever!”

“I think Gryffindors had compassion.” Ash said, as his fingers slid to his wand. “Perhaps I was the more deceived.”

Harry instinctively thought back to Hagrid’s low down on the houses. True enough. But generalizing people was a kind of prejudice. He didn’t want everyone to look up to him, so he should not look at people the same way, right?

“What about you? You look so smirking, you’re a born Slytherin!”

“So what? I don’t care which house I get into.”

“All Slytherins are dark wizards and death eaters!”

Ash closed his eyes. “Think what you will. I do not need to waste my time talking to you.”

Lance landed on his shoulder and licked his cheek. Ash petted her on the head.

Ron scowled, picking up his own wand. “You’re picking on the wrong person. What sort of name is Rocketti anyways?”

“Italian?” Ash asked, as he moved Lance into his arms. The small dragon came into visible again and glared at Ron, who dropped his wand.

“D-d-dragon!”

Harry looked puzzled. It was just a cute dragon.

“Hurt him and you die.” Lance said, stretching out her wings.

“Cool, it can talk.” Harry said. “Can I pet him?”

“Her.”

Lance allowed Harry to pet her for a few seconds, and then climbed around Ash’s neck and yawned. Staying transformed took a lot of energy.

“Sleep well.” Ash said, smiling.

Ron continued to gape.

End Chapter

Start/Completed 3/13/04