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That knowledge, she explained, had been passed down by her mentors. Ian fell silent, thoughtfully processing this revelation. After a moment, his curiosity got the better of him.
"So, does that mean the Dragons of today are direct descendants of those pureblood Dragons?"
"They seem far weaker than their ancestors," Ian remarked, already forming his own theories. Still, he needed Morgan's insights to confirm his suspicions.
"Mixed blood weakens the power within the bloodline; this is not a misconception of wizards, but a conclusion drawn from observing the evolution of magical creatures." Morgan answered Ian's question indirectly.
"I can answer this question." The Dragon raised its massive claw, as large as a carriage, and declared, "As the last pureblood Dragon in the world, when I was born, the world was already filled with those weak mixed bloods."
"I have never witnessed the glorious era of Dragons; it perished long before my time."
A heavy rumble escaped its nostrils, its tone shifting with a wistful melancholy that left Ian wide-eyed.
"The last dragon clan will rest here, and the era of dragons has come to an end."'
The ancient inscription from the Hogwarts catacombs echoed in the young wizard's mind. He had never imagined that the world could be vast enough to present such a coincidence.
"You... you're the dragon from Hogwarts' motto , ''Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus (Never tickle a sleeping dragon)!'' I saw your bones!"
Ian's voice wavered as he connected the skeletal remains from the catacombs with the imposing Dragon before him. The realization had eluded him earlier, as the spirit before him appeared far more robust than the bones.
Perhaps the essence of its soul lent it a more tangible form.
"I am the first student of Hogwarts! And the only pureblood Dragon to have attended the school!" The dragon puffed up proudly, swishing its tail with satisfaction.
"I do not seek trouble! But I am not afraid of it! Should any foolish wizard disturb my slumber, I will ensure they regret it!"
Ian was left speechless. The dragon's self-righteousness was both bewildering and amusing.
For the longest time, Ian, like countless others, including even Dumbledore, had believed the Hogwarts motto carried a deeper philosophical meaning. '"Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus (Never tickle a sleeping dragon)."' A poetic metaphor, surely meant to convey caution and wisdom.
Yet now...
The truth was absurdly literal. Ian could almost picture a hapless wizard, badly singed, furiously erecting a warning sign after waking the slumbering beast. Over the centuries, that simple caution had transformed into a grand piece of wisdom, passed down by professors to generations of students.
In this age, the motto was seen as a profound reminder to tread carefully when facing the unknown , not to disturb seemingly calm entities that might conceal great danger. Even Snape had once used it to warn Ian against reckless behavior.
"Have we all just been overthinking it?"
The more Ian thought about it, the more convinced he became.
After all, the Latin inscription "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus" directly translated to "Never tickle a sleeping dragon!"
It made far too much sense.
How many arrogant wizards had foolishly challenged this very dragon only to face a fiery fate? Ian recalled the resilient magic lingering in the dragon bones he had once seen and silently pitied those unfortunate souls.
"If it were me... well, I definitely wouldn't stand a chance. But who wouldn't be tempted to try?" Ian understood the reckless spirit of those past wizards all too well.
"That expression of yours reminds me of those blasted Gryffindor students." The dragon's next words broke Ian's thoughts, and he suddenly realized which house had been most inclined to provoke it.
"Has anyone ever defeated you?" Ian asked, his curiosity getting the better of him as he gazed up at the ancient creature.
"Aside from a few professors teaming up, no other wizards can defeat me; I am ancient." The Dragon boasted proudly about its long life.
However.
Witch Morgan suddenly interjected, "Their extinction has its own reasons, and it also relates to our long-standing cognition as humans. Due to the powerful connotation represented by the Dragon, they once became a touchstone for many heroes in our era to prove themselves."
Her words made the Dragon somewhat displeased, yet it did not dare to voice any rebuttal. The witch was not lying; in her era, slaying a dragon was indeed a renowned feat, symbolizing great courage and strength.
This matter was heavily documented in wizarding lore, including accounts like the tales of Merlin and the heroic deeds of Middle Ages wizards. Even in Ian's favorite Muggle literature, like "The Lord of the Rings," dragons were often the ultimate challenge for heroes.
"It seems that we humans are indeed more powerful." Ian sincerely expressed his sentiment while the Dragon snorted in dissatisfaction.
"All magical creatures find it extremely difficult to retain the strength of their bloodline during reproduction; only we humans are the most special exception, which is also the greatest trump card of humans in the primitive era." Morgan's words trampled on the current wizarding world's pureblood supremacy theory, and Ian deeply agreed, as this teacher had already revealed the essence of human wizards to him through the lessons in the "love potion", every human actually has the potential to become a wizard.
In such a case.
There would naturally be no dilution of bloodlines.
"Recessive and dominant traits..." Ian had temporarily set aside his research on potions and wizard bloodlines due to studying the Resurrection Stone, but he had indeed touched upon the subject in Morgan's lectures on magical inheritance.
"Can I turn this dragon into my Patronus?" As soon as Ian thought of the Resurrection Stone, he immediately pulled out his creation, the ring shining with a mysterious glow, looking quite impressive.
Originally, he had intended to find a small animal for experimentation when entering the Twilight Zone, and the only difference between a large animal and a small animal was a single word!
"Can a Patronus choose itself?" The Dragon did not seem to feel any rage; it merely appeared puzzled, as if the educated dragon had encountered a knowledge blind spot, staring at the little wizard for a long time with a confused expression.
"You are actually a living person!"
It turned out that a large head might influence the transmission of neural signals; brain capacity does not necessarily represent intelligence. The belated realization of the Dragon let out an extremely shocked scream.
It was hard to imagine that a dragon could have such a rich facial expression.
"…"
Morgan felt extremely speechless at the Dragon's foolishness.
"Oh! I understand! You are the reincarnation of Merlin! It must be like that! I read your story at Hogwarts! Only you could have such abilities..."
The Dragon's exclamation lasted only a brief moment; its words filled with shock could not be completed before the witch, raising her hand, tightened the chains around its neck.
(To Be Continued…)