Even Damon hadn't expected to master the Patronus Charm in just two weeks.By now, he had most advanced spells under his belt—excluding, of course, the Dark Curses. Only the Confusion Charm remained, and that was something he could easily learn on his own in the Restricted Section. Not that he planned to use it to control anyone—he had no interest in that.
Professor Flitwick, having never seen a Chinese dragon, assumed Damon's Patronus was complete. Only Damon knew it wasn't. It lacked eyes.Just eyes—but to Damon, that felt like the difference between a painted creature and a living one.
A story came to mind. An old Chinese tale about a painter who once drew a perfect dragon—except for the eyes. When asked why, the painter explained: "If I paint the eyes, it will come alive and fly away."Someone dared him to try. So, reluctantly, the painter added the eyes—and sure enough, the dragon burst from the wall and soared into the sky.
That story lingered in Damon's thoughts. He had a feeling that what he'd done so far was just a surface-level response to the threat of the Dementors.Something deeper was missing. A true inner strength. A force that gave meaning to his Patronus.And truth be told… he didn't know if he had it in him.
Living a calm, quiet life wasn't so bad.He didn't want to force himself into stress he didn't feel. He didn't have the time—or the energy—for that.
Then he remembered. Something he'd completely forgotten until Hagrid's letter arrived:The Thunderbird he'd been promised had finally been found.
Hagrid had invited him to his hut—and invited Harry too. Naturally, Ron and Hermione came along, and this time they brought Neville with them.
The five of them headed toward Hagrid's hut. From a distance, they saw Lockhart in his lavender robes, strutting out the door and calling back loudly,"If you need anything, just ask! I'll sign a book for you—can't believe you don't have a copy already. I'll send one tonight. Ta-ta!"
Then he turned, spotted Damon and the others, and lit up like a chandelier."Hagrid wanted some advice about keeping water monsters out of wells," he said with a cough. "Gave him a few pointers. Don't tell him I said that—he'd rather not admit he needs help."
With that, Lockhart winked and hurried off.
Ron smacked his lips, shot Hermione a glance, but didn't say anything.
As they stepped inside the hut, a loud, annoyed voice met them."What now?"
"Hagrid, it's me."
"Oh—Damon. Sorry, thought it was Lockhart."
"You don't seem to like him very much," Damon noted.
"It's not that," Hagrid grumbled. "He just thinks he can teach me about magical creatures! As if I don't know my own job. And the way he talks—going on about exorcising banshees and whatnot. I swear, if any of that's true, I'll eat this teapot."
He looked genuinely frustrated, red in the face, which was unusual. Hagrid rarely criticized the Hogwarts staff.
Hermione raised her voice slightly. "That's not fair. Professor Dumbledore clearly thought he was the best choice—"
"He was the only choice," Hagrid cut in. "Nobody wants the Defense Against the Dark Arts job anymore. People say it's cursed. But anyway—let's not talk about him."
He glanced at Damon, his mood shifting. He gave a knowing grin and waved him over, voice lowering with excitement."I've got what you wanted. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have had to deal with Lockhart at all."
He led them to a large cage in the corner. A soft, low hum filled the room—the sound of something magical. Wings gently fluttering, a storm barely contained.
Damon stepped closer. The cage was covered in ancient runes, glowing faintly—charms for safety and comfort.
"I went through a lot to get this," Hagrid muttered, unlocking the cage. His brow furrowed. "The Arizona wilderness is no picnic. Thunderbirds don't make their nests easy to find."
The cage creaked open.
Inside, a young Thunderbird nestled in the straw—no bigger than a cat, with feathers like strands of golden lightning.Its star-bright eyes shimmered with quiet depth. It shifted, wings twitching, uncertain and alert.
"Wow…"Harry said it first, but the others mirrored the same look of awe. Even Hermione's eyes sparkled.
She trusted Damon. He'd handled dragons before—his enchanted suitcase made it all possible. She wasn't afraid of what was in that cage.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Hagrid said, beaming. He reached out to pet the chick's chin—but the bird gave him a sharp, suspicious look.
Hagrid chuckled and reached again, more determined this time.The Thunderbird gave a shriek and darted up—straight to Damon's shoulder.
"Oh, not again," Hagrid said, watching the chick settle on Damon like it had always belonged there. "You've got a gift, y'know that? I'd trade anything for it."
Damon smiled, gently scratching under the bird's beak."It's yours now," Hagrid said. "Give it a name."
"A name?" Damon paused. The image of a full-grown Thunderbird filled his mind: snow-white feathers, golden beak, eyes like starlight… wings like stained glass filtering sunlight onto the earth.
It didn't make rain directly—but its flight stirred vapor into the skies, birthing storm clouds and calling the rain.
"Golden Sparkle," he said softly.
The bird chirped.
And the name stuck.
I'm really trying hard to improve my translation! So please let me know how my translates are?
Read 20+ chapters ahead at
p@treon.com/Horizons685
End of this chapter..