Regulus Black stepped toward the final fire dragon, ignoring the Aurors' warnings around him.
This dragon had a lion-like face, with wings typical of Western dragons and a crown of spikes encircling its head.
Though it looked nothing like the traditional Chinese dragons Regulus remembered, it still stirred a wave of homesickness within him.
It had been four years since he'd crossed into the world of Harry Potter, and never before had he felt such a longing to be himself again—just Regulus.
Different cultures, different backgrounds, even an entirely different worldview.
Perhaps it was time to visit the Chinese regions, to see how their world differed from the one in his memory.
With that thought, Regulus leaned against the fire dragon, breathing in its scent—a peculiar mix of smoke and fire. This was the signature aroma of the Chinese Fireball. Unlike other dragons that spewed streams of flame, this species expelled a fireball accompanied by thick smoke, earning it the name "Chinese Fireball."
Additionally, the Chinese Fireball was considered the most intelligent of all fire dragons and was known to enjoy communicating with humans. In ancient times, people in China even worshipped them as gods.
"How did you get here?" Regulus asked.
He looked up and found himself face-to-face with two enormous nostrils. Yet, the Chinese Fireball did not breathe on him.
Surprisingly, the dragon lifted its head as if in contemplation after hearing his question.
"Roooaaar...!"
A thunderous dragon's roar echoed throughout the Forbidden Forest. Instantly, the place erupted with activity. Every wizard present could hear the answering cries of the creatures within the forest, as if they were responding to the dragon's call.
Master of all beings. King of all life. In this moment, those titles fit the Chinese Fireball perfectly.
But for her, this was simply a formal greeting to the locals upon arriving in a new land.
"Hmm hmm... hum hum... hmm hmm!"
Rhythmic sounds resonated from deep within her chest, unintelligible to the others. Only Regulus, still leaning against her, could understand. These sounds were accompanied by a mental transmission—messages from the Chinese Fireball.
She explained that she had come here willingly, a free being. Or, as the wizarding world's Ministry of Magic might phrase it, she was on loan from China. Her purpose was to broaden her horizons and serve as a proctor during the event.
That she thought of herself as a proctor—well, that was unexpectedly amusing.
At the same time, the Chinese Fireball expressed that she was hungry. Though fire dragons could endure long periods without food, a meal would certainly be welcome.
"I see! Would a whole cow be enough for you?" Regulus stepped back a little and looked up at the dragon's head.
The Chinese Fireball thumped her tail excitedly, which made the nearby Aurors tense up.
Regulus then summoned a living cow. At the sight of the fire dragon, it collapsed to its knees—not in submission, but paralyzed by fear of the dragon's presence.
"Careful! Mr. Black, step back!" one of the Aurors suddenly shouted in alarm. The Chinese Fireball had raised her head and taken a deep breath—usually a precursor to a devastating wave of dragonfire, a dangerous move even for experienced wizards.
But Regulus, knowing what she was about to do, remained calm. He simply waved off the Aurors, signaling them to lower their wands.
The Chinese Fireball curled her lips into a contemptuous smirk. Then she opened her jaws and released a sphere of fire.
The flaming orb struck the ground in front of her, leaving a large crater. Then, to everyone's astonishment, she gently nudged the cow into the pit, and began scooping up the surrounding dirt to bury it.
The fireball didn't extinguish immediately. Only when not a single ember was visible on the ground did the Chinese Fireball approach and gently blow across the surface. The scorched dirt scattered, revealing the cow—crispy on the outside, tender within.
Carefully nudging the cow out, the Chinese Fireball placed the roasted whole ox in front of Regulus Black.
"You may take a portion, but no more than half."
A rumble from the Fireball's chest conveyed its message again—clearly, it was inviting Regulus Black to share the dragon-roasted feast.
Barbecue made with dragonfire was usually a dangerous endeavor, akin to snatching food from a dragon's mouth. Even wizards had to be extremely cautious, wait for the right moment, and be quick to grab and run.
Yet dragonfire barbecue had its unique appeal—otherwise, wizards wouldn't risk their lives to steal a bite.
First, the flavor was unlike anything else: incredibly aromatic, with a taste so unforgettable that once you'd tried it, you could never forget.
Second, the meat was imbued with magical energy. The power of dragonfire permeated every cell, making it a rare and nourishing delicacy.
"Thank you for sharing, then. I don't need half—a single leg will be enough."
Regulus Black drew his wand, while the Chinese Fireball looked on with great interest.
"Scourgify! Sectumsempra!"
Regulus first cleaned the dust and sand off the roasted ox, then cleanly sliced off a front leg.
"Get some rest. As long as you stay here, I'll bring you a cow every day."
He levitated the leg with a charm and walked away from the Chinese Fireball. Only then did the tense Aurors finally relax. Still, they were puzzled by the fact that he hadn't used a dragon-sleep spell, leaving the commanding Auror unsure how to proceed.
"Mr. Black, why didn't you put the dragon to sleep? How are we supposed to do our work?"
The commanding Auror immediately stepped in to block Regulus. The Ministry of Magic had ordered him to follow Regulus Black's lead. In previous operations, Regulus had subdued dragons with just a few moves. Why had he refrained this time? It was hard to understand.
"The Chinese Fireball is the most intelligent among all fire-breathing dragons. In ancient times, their ancestors were worshipped as gods by people over there. This particular lineage has become more inclined to communicate with humans and is more willing to share. You saw how she offered me part of her meal—that's the clearest sign of goodwill."
The steaming ox leg gave off a mouthwatering aroma, and the dragonfire-infused magic flowing through it would certainly benefit any wizard.
"I was planning to save half of this leg for the Aurors on night duty… as a little bonus meal."
Regulus Black put on a thoughtful expression, as if weighing whether the gesture was worth it.
As soon as he said that, the expressions of the Aurors nearby changed. If their captain offended Regulus, their extra meal would be gone!
This was dragonfire barbecue—unless you were one of those dragon-handling specialists, ordinary wizards could only dream of such a treat.
One Auror tugged at their captain—no reaction.
Another gave him a shove—still nothing!
It was maddening. What was there to hesitate about? What could be more important than a hot meal for your team?
The Auror who shoved him leaned close to his captain's ear and whispered hurriedly in persuasion.
"What should we do about this Chinese Fireball?"
Prompted by his subordinates, the commanding Auror finally pulled a long face and turned to ask Regulus Black.
After all, someone had to take responsibility. If something went wrong, someone would have to be the scapegoat—and that burden needed to land squarely on Regulus Black.
"Let her be. She can go wherever she likes. Until she's returned home, there's no need to monitor her too closely. The Chinese Fireball won't cause any trouble."
Regulus turned his head slightly, looking toward the dragon.
"Right, my friend?"
"Hmm hmm hmm!"
The Chinese Fireball continued to eat the roasted ox at a leisurely pace. When she heard Regulus Black speak, she let out a sound of agreement.
Clearly, this dragon understood the wizards' conversation. With her strength and intelligence, the Chinese Fireball would be far more difficult to deal with than her kin.
But given her cooperative demeanor, could the wizards really justify watching her like a prisoner?
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