Norbert 2 - chances
Harry's mind was occupied with Hagrid's dragon. He couldn't think of anything else. And it seemed Ron and Hermione were no better off. Instead of studying, they often discussed what would happen when the dragon was born. They were so lost in their speculations they never noticed their interested eavesdropper. Despite all their conversations, they were still unprepared when Hagrid's note arrived: "It's time."
After their classes, they ran down to Hagrid's hut just in time to see the baby dragon break through its shell. It was fascinating – so fascinating that nobody noticed the shadow at the window.
It wasn't until their discussion about the name of the dragon and Hagrid's decision to name the baby Norbert that they heard hurried footsteps moving away from the hut. Harry hurtled to the window and saw a blond running back to the castle.
"Malfoy!" he said, turning to his friends with a worried look. "Now he knows about the dragon."
"Bugger! He'll tell his father." Ron swore, then he looked at Hagrid, "We've got to think of how to get rid of the dragon."
"Get rid of Norbert? No!" Hagrid pulled the little dragon close to his chest, one large hand protectively over the tiny creature.
"Hagrid, you must. You'll get in serious trouble if you don't. Malfoy's father has a lot of influence at the ministry." Ron tried to explain.
"I know." Hagrid held Norbert up to his eyes and looked at the dragon, "Don't worry, Norbert. You're safe with me."
"I can write Charlie in Romania. Maybe he'd know what to do." Ron offered but Hagrid was only half-listening.
-ooo-
Harry, Ron and Hermione visited Hagrid and Norbert every day, marveling at how fast the once-tiny dragon grew.
It didn't take long for Professor Snape to notice that something was up. This excitement among the three children was impossible to miss. The Professor hoped that Harry would come to him soon. He made it clear to Harry that the boy was to come to him with issues after Harry's essay about Avoiding mortal danger, but he wasn't sure if Harry yet trusted him that much.
Matters came to a head one afternoon when Severus witnessed the Weasley-boy storming into the Entrance Hall, a letter clutching in his hand. He yelled at Potter and Granger, "Charlie wrote back. He has a solution. Let's see Hagrid!"
Instantly the three of them headed out of the castle. Snape stepped over to the next window and watched the children curiously. He frowned as he saw clouds of smoke curling out of Hagrid's hut. That had happened more frequently in the last few days, and now it seemed the children were somehow involved with the mysterious smoke, but in what way? Were they trying to cook something? Severus knew Hagrid's cooking skills weren't the best. But what else could cause so much smoke? Were the children in any danger?
Severus knew he needed to find out.
-xOx-
As Harry, Ron and Hermione caught sight of the billows of smoke, they ran a little faster, worried about their friend. But as they reached Hagrid's hut, the half-giant stepped out the door and dropped the bucket he had used to extinguish the fire.
"Hagrid, are you all right?" Harry gasped, out of breath from their sprint.
"Yes. Yes. Everythin's fine. Norbert just got a bit angry 'cause my stock of firewhisky is running out. I need to go to Hogsmeade to get some new. It's really great how fast he learned to spew fire. He's a natural." Hagrid's eyes gleamed with pride despite his half-charred hut.
"Charlie wrote," Ron handed his letter over at Hagrid.
Hagrid skimmed over the letter and said defiantly, "I don't want to give Norbert away!"
"Hagrid, you have to," Hermione tried to convince their stubborn friend. "Look at your hut. How long do you think it will hold up?"
"Charlie promised to look after him. Norbert will be in good hands," Ron promised.
Hagrid still wasn't convinced, "What if he doesn't like it there? What if he misses me?"
Ron rolled his eyes. It took a great deal more persuasion to get Hagrid to agree their plan, but finally Hagrid gave in. On an upcoming night, someone would come for Norbert to take him to Romania.
-o-
After dinner, Harry, Ron and Hermione accidentally ran into Professor Snape.
"Where are you three going in such a hurry, if I may ask?" the professor asked, glaring from one to the other and finally fixing Harry with a piercing look. "You aren't plotting something?"
The nervous faces spoke volumes. Harry gulped, but before he could think of anything to say Hermione replied innocently, "No, professor. We just found something that could help us with our homework, and we were going see if it's really that helpful."
The girl smiled sweetly, but she couldn't fool the professor. Severus knew it was a lie. "Something," he repeated skeptically under his breath and gave Harry a disappointed look.
Hermione and Ron continued to the owlery to send a letter to Charlie with Hagrid's agreement, but Harry's head was full of concerns.
How much did Snape know? How much trouble was he going to get into for not involving Snape? He knew the Professor was waiting for him. He knew he ought to tell Snape, but he couldn't. He had promised Hagrid to keep Norbert a secret. And it wouldn't be dangerous, after all. They were just going to put Norbert into a basket and carry him up to the Astronomy Tower. That's all. Nobody would be harmed.
-x-
The next day however, Harry was no longer so certain. Ron had been bitten by Norbert, and his hand swelled up rapidly and turned green. Hermione nagged Ron to go to Madam Pomfrey, but Ron refused because he didn't want to arouse suspicion.
Over the next two days Ron's hand got worse. He felt so ill, he couldn't eat anything without throwing it all up. Harry felt edgy with nerves. Snape seemed to be watching them all the time.
Finally even Ron agreed he was really sick, and he trudged off with his friends to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey's eyes widened when she saw his hand, but she didn't ask much. She sent Ron to a nearby bed and shooed Harry and Hermione out.
In the corridor outside the infirmary, they were met by an angry-looking Professor Snape.
"Mr. Potter. Can I have a word with you in my office?"
"Professor Snape, it wasn't-" Hermione started but she fell silent at the look that was cast at her.
"Miss Granger, although I'm disappointed in both of you, it is Potter with whom I shall speak in private."
Hermione had no choice but to nod, but she looked worriedly after her friend.
"Come with me," Professor Snape said to Harry, walking away down the corridor.
With a sinking feeling in his stomach and heavy feet Harry followed him. He knew he was in trouble.
As they reached the office, Severus held the door open for Harry. With his head down, the boy entered.
"Sit down!" the Professor ordered while he was closing the door.
There was nothing special in these words, but Harry could hear how annoyed and disappointed Snape was. Harry looked up guiltily and watched Snape taking his own seat.
"Maybe you can tell me now what the three of you have been up to these last few days?" the professor asked.
Harry looked conflicted. "I…" he started but then he dropped his head again, "I can't, Sir."
Severus couldn't trust his ears "Why not?"
Harry winced but still didn't look up.
"Harry, please look at me and tell me what you are hiding from me. Or at least, why you believe you cannot tell me."
Harry finally looked up with teary eyes. "I promised not to tell anyone."
"Your friend is very ill."
"It was just an accident," Harry protested. It wasn't like Norbert meant to hurt anyone…
"An accident? Your friend has a very serious envenomation. How was that an accident?" Snape asked.
"How did you know?" Harry's jaw dropped.
"Harry. I'm not blind. I'm a potion master. Do you really believe I don't recognize the signs of a poisoning? There are two ways how this could have happened: either you and your friends were brewing a very dangerous potion that went wrong or your friend was bitten by something dangerous. But if that were the case I'm wondering where you have been."
Harry gulped. Snape's suspicions were very close to correct. If Harry didn't tell about Hagrid's dragon, the professor would doubtless think they had gone into the Forbidden Forest.
As Harry kept silent, Severus continued, "I've watched the three of you these last few days. Whenever your classes ended you hurried to Hagrid's hut, and the smoke coming from there was worrisome. What will I see if I decide to pay Hagrid a visit?"
Now the boy looked up with wide, frightened eyes. Harry realized that it wouldn't be hard for Snape to learn about the dragon with or without Harry's help. So why hadn't the professor done just that? Why had he waited for Harry to tell him? Was that the reason why Snape was so disappointed?
Harry was tortured. On the one hand he desperately wanted to tell Snape; on the other hand, he couldn't bring himself to betray Hagrid. While Harry was still trying to decide what he should do, Professor Snape continued.
"You know that it is up to the teachers to help the students. Sometimes it also falls to us to help other teachers. But it is not up to the students to solve a teacher's problems on their own."
"But Hagrid is my friend!" Harry pointed out.
"Well. Do you think you are his only friend?" Snape asked.
"Erm… I guess not," Harry said in a small voice.
"I have known Hagrid much longer than you. And you can believe me when I say this would not be the first time if he had gotten himself into trouble."
Harry finally nodded. "He has a dragon," Harry whispered.
"He has a what?" Severus couldn't believe his ears.
"A dragon," Harry repeated a bit louder. "His name is Norbert. It hatched a few days ago."
"A dragon," Severus repeated to himself. "How in Merlin's name did he get a dragon?"
"He said he won the egg in Hogsmeade in a card game."
"In a card game?" Severus still couldn't believe what he was hearing. This couldn't be a coincidence. Everybody at Hogwarts knows Hagrid is a miserable card player. How could Hagrid have won a game with such a desirable prize?
"Sir?" Harry asked cautiously, as the professor silently stared into space. At Harry's voice, Snape focused back on him.
"What about the three of you? What role did you play in this?" he questioned sharply.
"Erm… Ron's brother works in Romania with dragons. We asked him what we should do with Norbert, and Charlie said Norbert can come to Romania to live on his dragon preserve."
Snape raised his eyebrows. "I cannot believe Hagrid agreed to give the dragon away."
"Well, it was hard work convincing him, but with Malfoy knowing about the dragon, we knew it couldn't stay a secret very long."
Snape was a bit taken aback. Draco had known about the dragon and didn't say a single word? "And how were you planning to get the dragon to Romania?"
"Well, erm..."Harry scratched the back of his head uncomfortably, "we're supposed to bring Norbert to the Astronomy Tower at night and-"
"No!"
"But, sir, Norbert will be in a basket, he won't-"
"No!" Severus said in tones of finality.
"But we have to do it at night. At day there would be too many witnesses," Harry protested.
"Harry. Rules. Do you know this word?"
"Yes, but-"
"I will not have three children carrying a dangerous dragon through the castle in the middle of the night. Do you have any idea how heavy even a baby dragon is? What if you lose hold on the basket and it gets out? Then we would have a dragon running wild inside the castle."
"Hermione knows a levitating charm. We won't have to carry the dragon."
"I said no!"
"But we have to help Hagrid" Harry whined.
"You have already helped him a great deal. Now it's time to let the adults handle this while you three are good children and stay in bed. When is the delivery planned?"
"We don't know yet. We're waiting for Charlie's letter to arrive and tell us the date."
"Very well. When this letter arrives, you will come and tell me immediately."
"But how will you get Norbert to the Astronomy Tower?"
"That is nothing you should concern yourself with any longer."
Harry sighed. Then he nodded and hung his head again. Again silence grew between the two, but then Severus cleared his throat.
"I can understand why you hesitated to come straight to me regarding the dragon. But that is exactly what you should have done. When you are making plans and you realize that you will have to break rules, then you should come to me and ask me for advice. If it isn't a total nonsense we will find a way together. You are not alone any longer. I know you just want to protect your friends, but you cannot protect your friends if you put yourself in danger. And you should know that I'm trying to protect you as well."
"I'm sorry," Harry whispered.
"I hope that someday you will see that not all adults are like the Dursleys."
Harry and Severus looked at each other for a while.
"I know you are not like the Dursleys, but…" Harry bit his lower lip. He didn't know exactly what to say.
"I know you have had little reason to trust adults, and it will take some time to get used to. But please promise me that you will give us a chance. You are very important to me."
A small smile spread over Harry's face. "Thank you, Sir. I promise to give it a chance."
Severus nodded. "You can come to me whenever you need to. My door will be open. And now, off with you."
Harry let a small laugh escape. Tears were already stinging his eyes. "Thanks," Harry whispered again, then he fled from the room. At least this time he didn't cry like a baby in front of his professor.
