Chapter 10: dragon dangers

Harry was in a much better mood come second term, he was now Harry Malfoy officially, and he could know his dads in public. The adoption would not be public knowledge till summer; Albus would not expect Harry to grow close to them so soon. By summer he would have gone home to the manor for Easter and the birth of his little brother, and it would not be as out of place. Their dads did not want to be out done by their Uncles, were going to let the boys help name their baby brother. Harry was always happy to get back into classes, and showing up the little prat Ron was easy enough, and fun at that.

Just before the holidays Albus made a press for Harry and Ron to spend more time together, and Harry didn't want to risk the holiday, for anything. Albus thought he and Ron had gotten off on the wrong foot, and they just needed some common ground, to become the best of friends. Draco and the twins all laughed at that.

Harry was not at all amused as he was forced to go off with Ron the weekend before break. "Only you could volunteer for us to work with Hagrid."

Ron sneered back at him. "Do you think this was my idea, to hang out with you? If I am going to be stuck with you, you can at least tag along in silence."

Harry wondered what Ron could possibly be doing with the man, but assumed Hagrid was not too bad, it could have been tea with Albus. The headmaster knew what they were up to; it seemed he assigned Ron to give Hagrid a hand, so it could not be too out there. Hagrid was known for some odd pets though, an odd passion for him, one of the reasons he lived in the hut, and not in school any where.

Harry thought it was going to be boring until they got into the hut, and Harry saw what all the talk was about, lying on the table. There was a baby dragon in the middle of the table, and Harry could guess, it was a few days old. This was insane, they were illegal, and dangerous to boot.

Hagrid looked up in surprise when Harry came into the hut but Ron explained. "Dumbledore wanted Harry to come to his senses, and befriend the right sort."

Harry sneered at him. "The right sort? Oh yes a prat like you who is harbouring a dangerous animal, and risking the entire school. I'm sure."

Though he liked Hagrid, or what he have seen of him, knowing he had been friendly with the marauders and his mom, this was beyond reckless, and stupid. There was a good reason they had been banned in this country, and in most other countries, they were in sanctuaries like where Ron's brother worked. Hagrid may know a lot about magical animals, but people trained for it for years, and it still took teams of people.

Harry turned."I am going to go and tell Professor Snape or McGonagall. You are putting the entire school at risk."

Ron sneered at him. "You snivelling little baby, I told the headmaster we shouldn't tell you. You'd probably be scared of a skrewt."

Hagrid was upset and trying to convince Harry that Norbert was nice and would never hurt anyone, and Harry felt bad for him. He knew Hagrid had a good heart, and he would never try to hurt anyone, but he had to know that bringing a dragon here, was reckless and plain stupid. The man could be fired for having the dragon and if the dragon hurt anyone, he would be looking at prison time. Harry reminded the man of that, and the fact he would never want to hurt anyone.

Ron could not believe this was happening, he had been helping take care of the dragon now for four days since it was born. It was the coolest thing, not even Charlie got to work with dragons when he was still in school, and it was something he alone in his family did. Albus was thinking of raising dragons in the school.

Ron grabbed for the dragon when Hagrid actually said he would send him off to a sanctuary."You can't do this. You can't let him scare you off."

Hagrid tried to stop Ron. "Ron don't touch him like that. You're going to spook the dragon."

Unfortunately Ron was never one to listen and he spooked the dragon, who shot fire out. He was small, and couldn't create much, but the fire hit the thatch roof and the ale that Hagrid had in the corner, and the ale exploded. Harry screamed as he found himself cut off from the other two, and away from the door, the smoke already growing, and his one attempt to get to a window before the fire spread, singed all of the hair off his left arm.

Harry was losing consciousness from all the smoke when he could have sworn he heard hoof beats. He slipped to the floor and called as he blacked out. "Here."

Sirius raced to the school, he had been informed of the dragon, even though the aurors had not been called in. Albus claimed they had come upon a dragon egg by accident, and had been making arrangements to send the dragon away. The dragon was killed in the fire that destroyed Hagrid's hut but the ministry had been informed, as a group was sent to put out the fire. Sirius hoped he had good news, for his husband was due any day now, and the last thing Lucius needed was to hear their son was in critical condition or something. He would not have even known, if Severus had not sent word, Albus had not.

He found Draco and his Uncles in the infirmary, as well as Albus and one of the centaurs. Harry was lying in a bed, but was propped up against pillows, and awake. He had an oxygen mask over his mouth, and bandages on his left arm and side, bare from the chest up.

Albus was shocked to see him."Sirius you didn't need to come. You should be home, Lucius is due any day now."

Sirius snarled. "My godson is in a hospital bed and you didn't even think to summon me. Someone better explain now."

They explained Harry had gone down with Ron, and unfortunately Ron acted rashly, and scared the dragon. Harry got caught in the hut, but Firenze and some of the other centaurs had been close, and had come to his rescue, bringing down the back wall. Albus tried to downplay how much danger Harry was in.

Albus smiled."Harry will spend a few days in the infirmary, and be back in time for classes after Easter. Hagrid has been warned of course."

Sirius was irate to learn Ron only got a week of detentions. "My husband will see about that. Now I am taking my godson back to the manor."

Albus tried to protest Harry needed medical care, and Sirius was busy with Lucius, but it fell on deaf ears. Poppy assured Sirius that Harry could be moved, he just needed to take it easy, and since Severus was going, there would be a medic. Lucius was going to have the baby at home, Poppy was an old friend and agreed to come deliver, so she would be at the manor as well at some point. Albus made one last attempt to get is way, and turned to Harry to convince him.

Harry was pale. "I don't want to be in the infirmary sir, and Draco is going to be gone."

Sirius was amazed even when shaken and ill, Harry could play the old man. "I will stay the night, and in the morning, I will take both the boys home."

Albus could not fight it, and turned around and left, fuming mad. He had not planned for Harry to be in the infirmary, but he had thought he could turn events to his side, and keep Harry here for the holiday. Draco would have been home, and the lions could work on Harry, but that all came crashing down on him.

Sirius thanked Firenze for saving Harry and turned to his son. "You'll be home soon and you can recover there."