Dragonsalt Chapter 3 (Patreon)

Harry Potter

The plan he and Daenerys came up with would not go off without some preparation, and for that he required a few things to fall into place first before they began. To start with, he needed the slave masters - as well as most of the city - to have heard news of the return of dragons. After all, it wouldn’t go over well if Daenerys simply showed up and surprised everyone with the appearance of her dragons, and it would be best if everyone heard the news and had adequate time to digest it all.

For that he came up with a clever scheme, preferring chaos over an intricate plan, deciding that spreading the news through word of mouth would be best. After all, telling a large group of people about Daenerys Targaryen hatching three dragons would result in at least one of those people telling more, and so on from there.

He worked to spread rumors of the return of dragons all throughout Astapor, even going as far as to wear disguises in order to make it all seem more authentic. Harry would dress up and often transfigure his appearance before running into bars to yell out the news, before hastily moving on to the next establishment.

And to take it a step further, he had spent a fair bit of time at the port, telling sailors tales of Daenerys Targaryen hatching three dragon eggs. That way it would seem like those arriving foreigners would bring word of this news to Astapor, instead of it being a local city rumor.

At the end of the first day, he was finding the local city gossip in Astapor to be even more effective than the Hogwarts rumor mill. Every brothel and inn was alight with discussion of the return of dragons after so many years, the words “Daenerys Targaryen” and “Three Dragons” being passed around like wildfire.

In fact, the rumors he spread were so effective that she had already been given a nickname, being called the “Mother of Dragons” in some of the establishments he visited.

With her name given some validity, the next part of their plan came soon. No one knew they were in Astapor, and so Harry had to then spread another set of rumors that the “Mother of Dragons” was going to visit the city, and likely interested in purchasing an army of Unsullied for her eventual campaign of conquest.

Like clockwork, the richest nobles in the slave city ate up that set of rumors, and immediately went to work on making Astapor ready. The city was prettied up, the best slaves put up for display, and the Unsullied rushed to be sufficiently armed for Daenerys’ supposed arrival.

And that led to where they were now, having spent the last few days in the inn together, and having finally reached the point where the next part of their plan would begin. At least, it would begin soon if Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal didn’t stop roughhousing, flying around their shared room and biting at each other playfully.

“Calm down, my babies.” Daenerys pleaded with the three baby dragons, who stopped and settled down at the sight of their Mother.

At least, they were calm for about three seconds, before going back to playing. The Targaryen Princess let out a sigh of frustration, finding motherhood especially irksome in that moment - made even worse by the offspring in question being three rowdy dragons.

Harry’s gaze settled on the three flying reptiles, watching as Rhaegal’s jaws clamped playfully around Viserion’s tail while Drogon jumped on top of him. Normally he would be amused by their antics, but this was probably the worst time for them to be in a playful mood.

“Quit fooling around, and listen to your Mother.” At his side, Daenerys gasped, and it was only after he spoke that he realized he had been speaking to the beasts in Parseltongue. However, it was what came next that was truly surprising.

Instantly, the three dragons stopped what they were doing, following his commands to the letter. They lined up in a row, heads raised dutifully high like soldiers, almost as if awaiting their next command.

“Wha-” Daenerys blinked at the sight of Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal suddenly behaving, before looking at him in wonder. “What was that?”

“Uh, it’s called parseltongue.” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “I didn’t know it would work, but the three seemed to understand it for some reason.”

In truth, he didn’t intend to speak serpent tongue in that moment, as it had just come out when he looked at the three dragons. It eerily reminded him of his second year of Hogwarts far too much, when he had unintentionally spoken to that snake in the dueling club. Just like then, he had unintentionally spoke Parseltongue once again, but this time doing so to Daenerys’s dragons.

“Sorry if it startled you.” He looked at Daenerys, who studied him oddly. Luckily, she didn’t seem to be terrified of him - something he had experienced every time he spoke parseltongue in the past.

Of all things he expected her to say, her next question completely caught him off guard. “Can you, uh… teach me?”

“Well… It’s an inherited magical language, so no.” He replied slowly, not having expected that question. “To be honest, I’ve only ever used it to speak to snakes, and found it mostly useless up until this point.”

“Huh.” Daenerys folded her arms, her cheeks reddening all of a sudden. “If you insist then.”

Is she jealous? He stared at the dragon princess incredulously as she pouted. “Now that you mention it, there might be some way I can teach you in the future... Maybe if you mimic the hissing sounds?”

Just like that, her expression flipped as she smiled happily. Before he knew it, she had moved over and given him a quick kiss. “Thank you, Harry!”

“Of course.” He failed to hide a goofy grin. In the next moment he took out his wand and held it out for her to hold. “Do you mind trying something for me?”

“Uh, sure?” She took the knotted wand carefully. “What is it you want me to do?”

“First, focus, then give it a small flick and say Lumos.”

She did as instructed. “Lumos.”

A tiny light appeared at the tip of the Elder Wand, and Daenerys gasped before swiftly dropping it in a panic. He snatched it out of the air before it hit the floor, feeling happy and a bit amused by her reaction.

“W-What was that?!” She looked almost shaken.

“Just a simple spell.” He answered. “I wanted to see if you had magic, and it seems you do. Muggles - or people without magic - can’t use a wand, so one could technically say you’re a witch.”

“I-I could feel it, b-but it felt…” She trailed off, breathing with a light sheen of sweat as if the simple spell had winded her.

“Hard? Like something was pushing down on you?” His words elicited a nod, as he got the answer he was looking for. So it’s not just me who struggles with magic.

Ever since he arrived in this world, it felt like he was trying to perform magic under the strictest of wards. Like a suffocating weight had been placed on his soul, trying to strangle him any time he cast a spell. It was why he struggled to apparate here, as it felt like forcing yourself through a brick wall rather than through an open tube.

I’ll need to look into this more. He decided, placing the three dragons in their cages before they left the inn, making sure to cast protections on them so they weren’t disturbed or stolen while he and Daenerys were gone.

/////

Like clockwork, the two of them were eagerly welcomed when they arrived to meet with the slave masters, and soon found themselves in a fancy courtyard with nobles piling in to see the Mother of Dragons.

A grouping of some of the city’s wealthiest slave merchants had shown up to greet them, with a man named Kraznys mo Nakloz at their head. The man was even bigger than Harry’s cousin, Dudley, stinking of oil and raspberries that he bathed his overweight form in.

The fat slaver only spoke in High Valyrian, and had an attractive slave girl at his side to translate as he spoke. Sadly, there was no perfect universal translation charm that Harry knew, but there were spells to help one understand a language given enough time.

Kraznys spoke in a guttural tone to Daenerys - which the slave girl, Missandei, translated. Even without knowing what he was saying, Harry could tell it was insincere and rude.

After enough time, a thousand of the Unsullied soldiers were brought into the courtyard they were standing in. They had been marched out of their barracks, standing in neat rows before himself and Daenerys for examination.

“They are chosen young, for size and speed and strength.” The slave girl told them. “From five years old, they train from dawn to dusk in the shortsword, shield, and spear. The training is most rigorous, your Grace, as only one boy in three survives. Among the Unsullied it is said that on the day they win their armor, the worst is done with, for no duty that will ever fall to them could be as hard as their training.”

Bloody hell. Harry felt the urge to vomit at the sheer cruelty of what was just explained. “Surely there’s a better way to train them?”

Kraznys whirled and glared at him, almost like he knew what he said. Of the words the man spoke next, Harry only caught two of them through his translation spell. “… what … spoken…”

Missandei translated Harry’s words, to which the fat slaver growled. “… fool … Westerosi sympathy… weak…” “The Good Master says the Unsullied are the best soldiers in the world for a reason.”

I think he said that and a few insults. Harry’s eye twitched in annoyance.

“Why do you cut them?” Daenerys asked suddenly. “Whole men are better than eunuchs, I have heard?”

“…Dragon whore … dog… discipline… loyal…” Kraznys told his slave translator in response. “The Good Master says that a eunuch will never have as much brute strength, but Unsullied have better discipline and loyalty.”

And now he’s insulting Daenerys. His partner in crime kept her expression composed, but Harry could tell she was irritated by whatever the slave master had said.

“…whore… slut… watch…” The man spoke again, taking out a blade and walking towards one of the Unsullied. “He asks that you watch this carefully, your Grace.”

Harry watched in disbelief as the man ran his blade up and down the chest of one of the Unsullied soldiers, causing him to bleed profusely. Yet instead of yelling or even wincing in pain, the slave soldier stood perfectly still in place.

“Why did he do that?” Daenerys sounded shaken, and Harry was much the same.

“…Whore of Westeros… dogs… kill newborns… murder… mothers…” Even the girl translating looked like she was trying to hide her disgust at the man’s words. “The Good Master wished to demonstrate the strength of the Unsullied, unaffected by torture or pain, and untempted by coin or flesh. They have no life outside duty, and are loyal until the end.”

“I see.”

“…buy? ” Kraznys continued. “He asks how many you wish to buy, your Grace.”

“How many do you have?” Harry asked curiously.

“There are eight thousand at present, and are sold either by the hundred or by the thousand.” Missandei answered.

“…beggar Queen… flash her tits… lick… beg… whore…” Kraznys said, to which the girl generously translated for him. “The Good Master asks how many you intend to buy, and how you are going to pay for them?”

Daenerys smirked. “I want all of them, all eight thousand, and I will give you one of my dragons in return.”

All part of the plan. Harry fought to hide his smirk, even when the slave girl looked taken aback, seemingly trying to comprehend what Daenerys had just offered. She soon turned to the slave masters and told them what they were offering, which caused quite a bit of commotion.

Kraznys talked and argued with the other Masters, the group of them huddling together like greedy rats. For a moment it looked like they would try and bargain and negotiate, but the possibility of getting their hands on a dragon was simply too good to pass up on. After all, they had only learned of Daenerys’ dragons days prior, and now had the golden opportunity to get one of them.

Finally, the man returned as the girl translated for him. “The Good Master agrees to your offer, and only asks for the biggest dragon you have in return.”

“Done.” Daenerys said simply, before adding something as a final thought. “And tell this fat lard of shit that I would like you in return.”

Missandei gaped for a brief moment in astonishment, before turning to Kraznys and translating her words in a more generous manner. “…wants me… gift… good will…”

“…Fine.” The man nodded, not caring that he lost one slave girl.

They left the courtyard behind after that, him and Daenerys having added one more member to their group. He figured that his partner had taken pity on the slave girl, and would either let Missandei run free or take her on as a handmaiden.

“You know, I only caught a bit of that, but I think that guy is the second biggest piece of shit I’ve ever met.” Harry remarked.

Daenerys glanced at him. “You’re not wrong. Before I bargained with my dragons, he offered to give me ten Unsullied for free if I spent the evening licking his sweaty breasts.”

Their newest member, Missandei, seemed to undergo a coughing fit in that moment. “I-I am sorry, your Grace, could you understand Master Kraznys?”

“Yes.” She nodded, which only made the girl pale. “I learned High Valyrian when I was young. My apologies for using you, but I thought it would be more advantageous for the Masters to underestimate me.”

“And also to mess with them.” Harry grinned in anticipation, knowing what was coming.

/////

The biggest courtyard in the city was where they finally met Kraznys once again, along with all of the other nobles that called Astapor home. It seemed most of the city’s denizens had come out to see the impending spectacle, having to crowd along the courtyard’s sides and terraces to get a good view.

The courtyard was overwhelmingly filled by all eight thousand Unsullied, standing in formation with their spears in hand. It made for an intimidating display, something that wasn’t helped by the knowledge that all of them would soon belong to Harry and Daenerys.

“The Good Master greets you, your Grace.” Missandei drew his attention to Kraznys, who was coming towards them with a fancy golden totem in hand. “He has brought forth all eight thousand, as agreed upon, and asks for you to present the dragons, as was promised.”

It was Harry’s job to act as transport for the three drakes, carrying them in their cages. He brought one forward and opened it, and Drogon walked out. The black dragon had a small leash around his neck made of leather, something Harry had conjured earlier and told him in parseltongue he would have to wear it for only a few hours.

Kraznys spoke again, and Harry didn’t understand what he was saying as he forgot to cast a translation charm this time. Whatever it was, it didn’t sound kind, and Missandei soon translated. “He asks why the dragon is so small.”

“Tell him that they are freshly hatched, and will grow massive in time.” Daenerys said.

Missandei nodded and translated her words, to which the fat slaver grinned greedily.

Drogon looked up at Harry one last time, then at the slaver, and then back at him before nodding. He had explained the plan to Drogon already, to which the baby dragon seemed to somewhat understand the gist of it when he spoke in parseltongue. I wonder if he’ll be able to speak parseltongue back to me one day.

Reaching out, he handed the leather leash to Daenerys, who took it with a teary expression. Even if she knew this was all a ruse, it was still hard for her to give away one of her babies.

Walking the dragon across the small distance over to Kraznys, the greedy slaver took the leash while handing Daenerys the strange totem in exchange. On closer inspection, he saw it was a fancy whip handle, made with bone, gold, and leather.

“Is it done?” Daenerys asked.

“It is done.”

That was all that needed to be said, as the Targaryen princess turned back to the ranks of Unsullied while the various slave masters crowded around Drogon. She then began speaking in High Valyrian, and Harry pulled out his wand and cast the translation spell halfway through.

“…Mine! …Queen …Daenerys Targaryen! …Soldiers!” He caught some of Daenerys’s words through the spell, before turning back to where the slave masters were. The group of them were consumed by studying the baby dragon, but Drogon was beginning to get antsy, flying up to the end of his leash and shrieking angrily.

“…Bitch! …Dragon won’t come!” Kraznys shouted in High Valyrian.

“Dragon… not slave.” Daenerys replied calmly, making the slaver’s eyes go wide as he realized she could speak High Valyrian.

“…What? ”

“Unsullied… Hear my Orders! ” Daenerys raised the whip high before her new army. “Kill… Masters and free… slaves in… city! Strike… chains and kill… soldiers… slavers! Dracarys! ”

Drogon finally bit free of his leash, and unleashed a hail of dragonflame upon the slave masters who were huddled around him. Kraznys fell to his knees in pain, as the others screamed and were burned by the flames. However, others in the courtyard were beginning to realize what was happening, and ran away from the small dragon. That didn’t mean they were all useless, as a few rushed Daenerys to try and get the whip back, but met their ends at Harry’s wand or at the thousands of spears their new Unsullied soldiers wielded.

Soon it wasn’t a city of chains they were standing in, but a city of blood and freedom as the Unsullied took Astapor by force, freeing the slaves and slaying what slaver masters got in their way. And at the end of the day, it was Daenerys who now ruled over Astapor.

Disclaimer: All Characters are over the Age of 18