All characters belong to J.K. Rowling
"I'm telling you, he's gone mad!" Whispered Ron. The three young Gryffindors were sitting in the living room, enjoying the afternoon. Professor McGonogall was still downstairs in her classroom, so they had the suite all to themselves. They had just come from visiting Hagrid, who had just happened to have hatched a Norwegian Ridgeback dragon that he was now keeping for a pet.
"He told me when I first met him that he'd love to have a dragon…" muttered Harry. "I just didn't think he'd actually do it." "Doesn't he realize his house is made of WOOD?!" Hermione half-whispered, half-shouted.
"I don't think he's realized anything beyond the fact that he's going to have a pet dragon," stated Harry calmly. "I think the only thing we can do right now is be there to help when he needs it." While initially reluctant, all three agreed that they would do whatever they could to help Hagrid and make sure he wasn't discovered.
Charlie, Ron's older brother, had written to them that afternoon saying that some of his friends would be able to help. If Ron, Harry, and Hermione could just make sure Norbert stayed a secret for a couple more nights, they could keep Hagrid out of trouble.
It was at that point that Minerva had returned. She had a long, tiresome day of 5th years learning how to complete vanishing spells, which had resulted in her having to locate different items that had suddenly "turned invisible". When she entered her quarters, she immediately saw her three charges clumped together whispering. They glanced up and immediately stop talking. Minerva knew that could only mean they were up to something mischievous, but she prayed that it was something minor. She decided the best course of action was feign ignorance and head to her room to shower as originally intended. Sometimes it was best not knowing when students were up to something- after all, that only meant more work for her too.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron were too afraid to continue their conversation now that Minerva was within listening distance. They had learned from the first night that she had sensitive hearing, although they still did not know it was due to her being an animagus. Hermione chose to work on homework, while Ron and Harry played a game of Wizards chess. They agreed to visit Hagrid after dinner.
When Minerva emerged from her rooms, she saw that whatever the three Gryffindors had been planning had clearly ceased, which she was glad of. She would never admit it to anyone, but having these three staying with her had been something of an unforeseen blessing, giving her something to look forward too at the end of lessons. While she and Hermione had already grown quite close, she felt that she was growing bonds with Ron and Harry as well. The boys loved hearing about her days on the Gryffindor quidditch team, playing Chaser.
It had been an exhausting day, and she did not feel like going down to dinner. Just this once, she offered an exception. "Instead of heading down to the Great Hall tonight, why don't we have a family dinner in the kitchen tonight. I'll make some Shepherd's pie and you three can tell me about your day." Minerva smiled, but then saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchange a worried look.
Something was definitely planned, but before she could think further, Hermione quickly said "We would love to professor, except I think that Ron promised his brothers he would meet them for dinner. Would it be alright if it's just me and Harry tonight?" She smiled sweetly, and Minerva smiled back. Perhaps she was just being paranoid after dealing with 5th years all day long. After all, Ron wouldn't get into trouble on his own, unlike Fred and George. "Of course," she replied. "Go enjoy the Great Hall, Ron. I will see you tonight." Ron, looking a bit surprised, quickly jumped up, muttered thanks, and ran out before another thing else could be said.
Later that evening, Ron came back in and told Minerva he ate too much for dinner and needed to just lie down. One glance over at Harry and Hermione told them he needed to speak to them privately. "Is it okay if we go to mine and Ron's room professor?" Harry asked. "We've finished all our homework for the night, and we can make sure Ron gets all of his done as well." "And answer any questions he may have," chimed Hermione. Minerva nodded and gave them permission, continuing to mark 3rd year transfiguration essays.
"He bit me!" Whispered Ron as soon as Harry and Hermione shut the door. "That bloody dragon actually bit me! And what did Hagrid do!? He defended it, calling it a little baby and saying he didn't know any better!" Already, Ron's hand was beginning to swell. Harry and Hermione exchanged worried glances. They had been counting on Ron to help them carry Norbert up to the roof that Saturday.
By the next morning, however, there was no way Ron would be able to help. According to Harry at breakfast, his hand had swelled to twice his size over night. He pretended to be sick, keeping his hand under the covers so Minerva wouldn't see. Unfortunately though, Minerva demanded that if he were too sick to attend lessons then he needed to see Madam Pomfrey in the hospital wing. Ron slowly made his way there, resigned to the fact that he did indeed need medical attention. His hand was continuing to swell, plus now it was turning green. On his way over, he rehearsed the story in his head. If anyone asked, he would tell them that a dog ran up to him on his way back from Hagrid's and bit him. This way Hagrid wouldn't get in trouble and he could claim not to know anything about it, since Ron would have been leaving.
As soon as Ron reached the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey was all over him. She took one look at his hand and before Ron could even open his mouth and recite the story he had been practicing, she stopped him.
"Don't say anything Mr. Weasley, I don't want to know. Knowing means that I will have to report it to your head of house, especially since you are staying with her, and you and I both want to keep her out of whatever situation caused this," Madam Pomfrey gestured to his hand. "Now, lie down and try to relax. We have a long few nights ahead of us."
A couple of hours later, Ron woke to a most unflattering sight. Looming over him was none other than Draco Malfoy.
"So Weasley. Got yourself bitten by the dragon that oaf is hiding. I must say, even that is an improvement over how you looked before." Ron's face instantly turned red, but Malfoy, not caring, continued. "Your dumb friend Hagrid will be out on his arse by the end of next week, mark my word. When my father hears of this, not even Dumbledore will be able to back the stupid oaf."
By this point, Ron was just about ready to explode. It was lucky then, that at that moment, Madam Pomfrey came around the corner. "There now," she said, noticing Ron's face and Malfoy's smirk, "What's this all about?"
Malfoy quickly smiled at the nurse. "I'm sorry Madam Pomfrey," he said sweetly. "I came over because I had lent Ron my potion book, seeing as how his was all torn up, being second hand, and I needed it back temporarily to work on some homework."
Madam Pomfrey nodded approvingly and Ron was left no choice, but to play along and hand Malfoy his potions textbook. It wouldn't have been a big deal, had it not been for later that evening, when Harry and Hermione came to visit and he suddenly remembered the letter from Charlie that had been stuffed in the book. Upon hearing this, Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance. There was no changing the plan now. They would have to find a way together to make sure Norbert made it up to the astronomy tower. Each day they waited would be another day for Malfoy to get Hagrid fired.
Minerva knew at this point that Ron was being treated for some sort of bite, but she figured it was due to some venomous plant or a stray animal. She never assumed anything such as a dragon. That Saturday evening after dinner, Harry, Hermione, and Minerva sat in the living room. Harry and Minerva were playing chess and Hermione was curled up on the couch reading a book…or at least pretending to. In truth, she was going through the plan again. She had sneaked a peak at Minerva's planner while she was making tea in the kitchen and saw that she was on night duty. That meant that she and Harry could sneak out while Professor McGonogall was making the rounds. When she came back, she would assume that they were both asleep and go to sleep herself. Then she and Harry could sneak back in and nobody would be the wiser.
Sure enough, Minerva left at exactly 10 PM, with Harry and Hermione bidding her goodnight, pretending to head to their rooms to go to sleep. After giving her a 15 minute head start, they met back in the living room with Harry's invisibility cloak.
"Here goes nothing," Harry murmured. They threw the invisibility cloak over themselves and made their way down to Hagrid's. They had almost made it to the front door when they saw a shadow and heard Minerva's voice. They quickly backed up against the wall. Despite having the invisibility cloak, they felt like she would see them and their plan would be ruined.
"Nothing," they heard Minerva say loudly, "I repeat nothing! Gives a student the right to be out of bed! 20 points will be taken from Slytherin and you will be serving detention!"
"But Professor," Harry and Hermione glanced at each other, fear stricken. That was Malfoy's voice. "You don't understand! Harry Potter is sneaking around here with a dragon! He's helping it escape!" Minerva scoffed.
"You seem to forget, Mr. Malfoy. Both Mr. Potter and Ms. Weasley are currently staying with me while Gryffindor tower is being fixed, and I can assure you that neither of them are anywhere, but their bedrooms. And as far as a dragon goes," she began, suddenly stopping to think. She remembered the three of them huddled together earlier that week and it all seemed to make sense now. They had been planning to trick Malfoy and it worked. "I can assure you that there isn't one. This appears to be the result of a prank and you involved yourself unnecessarily. Had you kept your nose out of this false rumor, we would not be dealing with this situation. As I said before, nothing, gives students the right to be out of bed! Let's hear what your head of house has to say about this."
Once they were sure Professor McGonogall and Malfoy were well on their way to the dungeon, they made their way outside. Once they were outside, Hermione threw off the invisibility cloak, a huge grin on her face. "Malfoy got detention! Harry, I could sing!" Harry too, was pretty giddy. Not only were they going to get Norbert out, but Malfoy had finally gotten what he deserved.
When Harry and Hermione got to Hagrid's, however, their grins faded and they were reminded of the difficult task that now laid before them. Once Hagrid had finally finished saying his goodbyes, Harry and Hermione each grabbed a side of Norbert's crate and began carrying it up to the tallest tower in Hogwarts.
Several times Harry or Hermione had to tell the other one to pause while they set Norbert down to regain their breath. It wasn't until they were halfway up when Hermione suddenly had the idea to levitate Norbert's cage using wingardium leviosa. After that their task became much easier. They just had to make sure to avoid any shadows and keep Norbert quiet. They made it to the top of the astronomy tower and within minutes they could see the outline of people on their brooms, coming towards them to pick up Norbert.
After successfully getting Norbert hooked up to the brooms and talking a bit with the older wizards, Harry and Hermione made their way back down. Both were grinning- their plan had been successful. And to top it all off, Malfoy had detention! It wasn't until they made it to the bottom of the astronomy tower that they froze, face to face with Filch. "Well, well. We are in trouble, aren't we." Harry and Hermione exchanged petrified glances- they had left the invisibility cloak at the top of the tower!