So, does everyone know that the dragon in the Gringotts scene in Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a Ukrainian Ironbelly? (Ron says it, in case you didn't hear it.)
You have no idea how excited I was to realize that I did research on the Ironbelly and then went to go see Deathly Hallows Part 2 and there it was in the flesh.
Anyway, without further ado...
"And here," said Charlie Weasley, pointing from a great distance to a cage, "is where we keep our specimen of the Ukrainian Ironbelly."
"Oh!" cried Mrs. Weasley, his mother, at the sight of the dragon. She grasped her husband's arm. "Is it domesticated?"
"No," said Charlie firmly. "No dragon can be domesticated, Mum; dragons have an XXXXX classification rating from the Ministry of Magic. Means they're a known wizard killer." Not that Hagrid would listen to that, thought Charlie privately, briefly wondering how the gamekeeper was doing. He recalled that Hagrid told him he always wanted a pet dragon.
"Oh, Charlie!" said Mrs. Weasley, looking sick with worry. "You are being careful, aren't you?"
"Mum, would I be standing here if I wasn't?" asked Charlie, repressing the urge to roll his eyes. "I get a few scratches and burns here and there, but nothing to worry about."
Mr. Weasley squinted at the dragon in the cage. "You said it's from Ukraine?"
"That's right," said Charlie. "It's slow in flight, but it's capable of destruction. See its long talons? Look how big it is, it weighs about six tons!"
"Well, that's a lot of damage," said Mr. Weasley, chuckling. "I expect it can smash buildings if it gets loose, can it?"
"It can smash anything," said Charlie, laughing as well. "Its talons help with that. Actually, in 1799 there was an incident in Ukraine involving an Ironbelly."
"Oh dear," said Mrs. Weasley, giving a small frown. "What happened?"
"The dragon went out to the Black Sea and picked up a boat," said Charlie. "It's all right!" he added hastily at the look of horror on his mother's face. "There was nobody on the boat, but Ukraininan wizarding authorities kept an extra-close watch on the Ironbelly community since. Funnily enough, theboat was never found."
Mrs. Weasley winced. "Well, as long as nobody was hurt..."
"It's rather ghastly looking, isn't it?" asked Mr. Weasley. "Red eyes, silver metallic skin... Looks awfully rough and scaly as well..."
"About sixty feet in length too," said Charlie, "which just adds to the damage."
There was a very pregnant pause, after which Mrs. Weasley asked, "You... you don't have to tend to the Ironbelly, do you, Charlie?"
"Mum," said Charlie plainly, "I work on a dragon reserve in Romania. Chances are I work with most dragons. Yes, I have worked with the Ironbelly before."
"But, dear-"
"It's just as dangerous as any other dragon here," said Charlie, eyeing his mother. "What are you so worried for?"
"Well," said Mrs. Weasley, giving her second son a clumsy pat on the shoulder, "I just don't want you to get hurt, dear..."
"Ron started Hogwarts this year, didn't he?" asked Charlie, changing the subject.
"Yes," said Mr. Weasley, eyeing his wife, making sure it was okay to interrupt her mollycoddling. "He's sent us a few letters."
"He's friends with Harry Potter," said Mrs. Weasley, her worrying gone; she was beaming. "We met young Harry at the train station, he was an awfully polite and quiet boy... I hope he never has to face dragons..."
Charlie rolled his eyes. "Mum, I love doing this. It's my job. Please just accept that."
Mrs. Weasley hesitated, but then she smiled and ran her hand through Charlie's hair. "You'll be needing a haircut, dear, unless you plan having it catch fire from one of these dragons."
Smiling sincerely, Charlie escorted his parents down the line of cages and showed them other dragons.
