Disclaimer: Undoubtedly, upon reading this, the buzz in Stockholm will be about creating a Nobel Prize for fan fiction. In my acceptance speech, I will acknowledge that the characters and situations were created by J. K. Rowling and are owned by her and her various publishers as I do here.
Chapter 10
At Hogwarts, the snows of winter gave way grudgingly to the rains of spring. The temperatures climbed slowly but the skies were determined to remain slate gray. Heavy clouds obscured the sun for days on end and the winds kept a lingering chill in the air.
Gryffindor's four favorite first formers however paid scant heed to the weather. The pace of their studies increased as did their wonder at uncovering the mysteries of magic. Hermione, with her highly disciplined and organized nature, set up study schedules for herself and her three closest friends in early February.
"The examinations are closer then you think they are and there is no way that you would be able to cram for them," Hermione said as she presented the timetables. "These subjects are just too complex."
The boys grumbled a bit in a pro forma manner more to tease Hermione then any other reason. Harry especially was grateful for the extra study sessions. While his marks were good, indeed he was among the highest ranking students in his form, he still had the fear of failing and being forced to return to number four Privet Drive and the less then loving care of his only relatives.
It was this dedication to study that found the fab four on the rooftop after supper one spring evening. The sky had miraculously cleared prompting the four to ask permission to go up to the observation deck to study constellations for their astronomy class. Professor McGonagall readily allowed them leave to do so. Professor Sinistra gave her leave only after Harry and Ron assured her that they weren't actually seeking out the yarn spinning suit of armor. She opened up her store room and gave them two small portable telescopes in long round cases.
"You should be able to spot the constellations without any aid," Professor Sinistra assured them. "But if you are feeling in an adventurous mood may be these can help you along in your study of the night skies. I think that eight points to Gryffindor may encourage others to follow your example."
The foursome left thanking the Astronomy Professor for both the points and the telescopes.
"What does that leave us with making up?" Harry asked as he slung one of the telescopes on his back and headed up a staircase. "Ninety-eight?"
"Ninety-six," Neville answered strapping the other telescope across his back.
"We're practically there," Ron said bring up the rear.
"What was that about a ribald suit of armor?" Hermione asked.
Ron related to the girl his, Harry's, and the Weasley Twins encounter with the comedic suit of armor during Christmas break but he and Harry were far too polite to repeat any but the cleanest of the jokes to Hermione.
Shortly after sundown, the four of them had set up two telescopes and were taking turns seeking out the spring constellations that Professor Sinistra had described in class.
They were able to check off star group after star group on their list. Ursa Major was the easiest to find. Virgo and Leo and otherswere captured by the sharp-eyed quartet but Centaurus was proving elusive.
"I've seen everything but invading aliens and Centaurus," Ron said as he and Neville swept the skies with the pair of telescopes having given up searching by eye alone. "Are you sure that it's a spring constellation, Hermione?"
"It has been for only for a few thousand years, now. Ptolemy even described it," Hermione answered. "If we wait a few millenniums or so, Earth will have moved enough in space for it to disappear but for now it's up there somewhere."
"Maybe it hasn't risen yet," Neville ventured, his eye still peering through his instrument.
"Go back to scanning the skies with just your eyes," Harry injected.
"There's an idea, mate," Ron said as he stepped away from his telescope and rubbed his eyes. "I am about cross-eyed from looking for that stupid constellation."
"It should be easy to find," Hermione said. "According to the textbook here it is one of the largest constellations there is and…oh."
"Oh?" Ron asked. "Why do I feel that I am going to just love what comes next?"
"Everyone makes mistakes, Ron," Hermione said closing her textbook
"Now I know that I'm going to love this," Ron laughed. "Come on, guys. Gather 'round. Oh, do carry on, Hermione."
"Really, Ron," she said exasperated. "It isn't as if I have never made an error before."
"True," Ron chuckled. "But they are so rare that they are noteworthy enough to amaze us mere mortals. So what is it? It's an autumn constellation, isn't it?"
"No, it's a spring one," she replied. "But it's a southern one. It can't be seen above 30 degrees north. Hogwarts is somewhat beyond the 56th parallel north."
"So we have found all of the constellations that can be seen from here then?" Harry inquired.
Hermione quickly scanned her list. "Yes, Centaurus was the final one. Let's return the telescopes and go get some tea. I'm rather chilly."
"Hot chocolate would be better maybe with some little marshmallows in it," Ron said as he folded up the portable telescope. Harry came over with its case.
"What are you looking at, Neville?" Hermione asked as she brought the other telescope case over to her classmate. Neville had his telescope pointed toward the forbidden forest.
"For a moment, I thought that Hagrid's cabin was on fire," he said. "I thought I saw a flare up but I guess…wait there's another one. His house isn't on fire but something's going on down there but I can't see through the curtains."
"We're not up here to spy on people," Hermione said primly.
"I'm not spying on anyone," Neville countered as he placed the lens caps on the telescope. "But a flash of fire on a dark night does capture your attention."
Frowning, Hermione walked to the edge of the roof and peered across the vast lawns of Hogwarts towards the groundskeeper's cabin. Curtains obscured any view of the interior (not that she could have made out anything with distinction at over that distance) but a steady light did filter through the windows. The only smoke she saw was coming from the chimney.
"I see what you mean," she said suddenly as she herself saw a flame like flash. "Certainly he isn't doing magic. He's not allowed."
Harry stayed quiet about his own suspicions about Hagrid's pink umbrella and the remains of his broken wand. Hagrid had asked Harry to keep mum about Dudley's curly tail and Harry had kept his word.
"It's nowhere near curfew yet," Ron said. "We can return the telescopes and drop in on Hagrid if you're worried."
Curiosity struggled against the notion that it might be impolite to visit Hagrid uninvited and unannounced at such an hour within Hermione's thoughts. Curiosity won by playing the 'he might be in trouble' card.Within minutes, the foursome was running across the new growing grass to the cabin on the edge of the forest.
Surprisingly, Fang the Boarhound was lying on some burlap sacks by the garden wall as they approached the cabin. With his usual enthusiasm, the dog bounded around them but retreated back to his makeshift bed as they made their way toward the cabin door.
"That can't be anything but an ill omen," Ron said as he watched Fang scampering away from the cabin.
"Oh, don't be superstitious," Hermione said.
"If an animal is running its just common sense to see if it's charging after something or fleeing from something," Ron answered.
"I believe that is what we're doing," Hermione said as she knocked on the cabin door.
The sounds of breaking crockery was heard as Hagrid creaked open his door the tiniest of fractions.
"Oh, Hermione, fellas. How are you? I don't want to appear rude but this is a bad time for a visit," Hagrid said.
"Hagrid, we saw flames coming from your home. Your dog is cowering in your garden and it sounds as if there's a minor riot going on in your house," Hermione said with her fists on her hips. "I had thought that we had become friends enough for you to trust us to help you if you have difficulties."
Hagrid laughed and stood aside, waving them in. "If I don't let you in, you'll probably just hex the door down, wouldn't you?"
"Of course not," Hermione said as she led the boys into the cabin. "If you had told me to go I would…WHAT IS THAT?"
"Don't shout. You'll frighten Norbert," Hagrid said closing the door quickly.
"Hagrid, that is a dragon," Neville said awed.
"Yeah, I know it is," Hagrid replied grinning. "It is a Norwegian Ridgeback to be exact. I hatched him out myself last week."
Harry got as close as he dared to the beast. The baby reptile looked more like the pterodactyls pictured in a dinosaur book he once read then Smaug did in The Hobbit movie that he saw on the telly. The flare that the others had seen was explained when Norbert suddenly belched flames.
"Good Heavens," Hermione exclaimed. "That creature will burn your house down around your ears before the week is out."
The huge groundskeeper nodded his head, his eyes abruptly misting up. "I know, lass," he said sadly. "I've always wanted a dragon but the reality is that they can't be housebroken. Trouble is that he's too young. If I release him now, without any mother to watch over him, he'll be dead in no time."
"Can't you just make a pen for him outside?" Harry asked.
"Private ownership of a dragon is illegal in this country, Harry," Ron explained. "Illegal in every country, in fact, but China and Thailand. Hagrid has got to keep him under wraps."
"So you legally can't keep him and you morally can't let him loose," Harry said to Hagrid.
"Right in one," he said. "I've stepped in it this time without my boots on, to be sure. Dumbledore will have no choice to fire me seeing as I'll have a hard time doing my job from jail."
"We won't let you go to jail," Harry said promptly. "We just have to think of something."
"Can you hide him in the forest somewhere?" Neville asked.
"No, a dragon would disrupt the local ecosystem," Hagrid said. "And the forest is home to too many creatures for me to arbitrarily put anything in there."
"How in the world did you get a dragon, anyway?" Hermione asked.
"Won him, I did," Hagrid said. "Playing cards with a chap down at the Hog's Head a couple of weeks back. He put it up to cover a bet. His full house was good but my four treys were better. He didn't seem too upset, come to think on it."
"Well, since we are probably all ready accessories after the fact, let's go for aiding and abetting, shall we." Hermione said. "Do you think that Charlie can take Norbert here?"
"I know that they raise some of the more endangered species of dragon from hatchlings in an attempt to increase the number that reach adulthood so they have the know how," Ron said. "What do you think, Hagrid?"
"Sounds like a sensible idea, to me," Hagrid answered. "Owl Charlie right away."
"Ah, if I may," Neville said. "You don't have the time for owls. Is your fireplace hooked up to the Floo Network? If it is, I'd spring for the cost of an international call."
It took nearly an hour to finally reach Charlie Weasley. The call was connected from Scotland to Romania through England, Belgium, Germany, and Hungary. Ron feared eavesdroppers so they kept the wording vague. Charlie was quick on the uptake, however.
"Yeah, I remember your interest in boarhounds when I was there, Hagrid," Charlie said. "I'd love to have one of the pups. Tell you what to do. I have some friends visiting me this weekend. If you could have the pup up on the highest tower Saturday around midnight, they can pick it up for me. Save you the trouble of sending it yourself."
"Thanks, Charlie," Hagrid said. "I love the little fella but they grow so quickly and I do have Fang here."
"Yeah, they grow like weeds," Charlie answered with a chuckle. "Glad to hear that old Fang is still alive. How does he like the newcomer?"
"He hasn't been inside for a week now," Hagrid replied.
"Fang was always one smart dog," Charlie laughed. "Mum and Dad say that you're doing great, Ron. I'm proud of you. Don't be a stranger. You can reverse the charges occasional."
"Thanks," Ron said blushing slightly from his brother's praise.
"I'm out," Charlie said as his image disappeared from the fireplace.
Hermione looked at the hearth for a few moments then spoke. "I know that this must be hard for you Hagrid but you know that it's for the best," she said gently.
"I know," he replied. "It's been a bit rough on me lately. Something's been killing unicorns and I haven't been able to track it down I guess that's why I didn't really think this dragon thing though."
"It will soon be over with and with no one the wiser," Ron said.
"I'm getting off lucky and no doubt about it," Hagrid said. "If I can just keep Norbert from burning me out of house and home for the next three days and somehow get up to the tallest tower without being caught… oh, who am I kidding? I can't be missed by the most shortsighted person. Might as well confess now and get it over with."
"I can get up there unseen without any problem," Harry said.
"Thanks, lad but no," Hagrid said. "If you're caught then you'll be facing more then just school trouble. As Ron said, this is a criminal act. I can't allow you four to do more then you have done all ready. Actually you best be going; curfew isn't to far off."
"I have an invisibility cloak," Harry argued. "I won't be caught."
"We won't be caught," Ron said. "It'll take two of us to handle the crate."
"WE won't be caught," Neville corrected. "Harry and I are the same height. That'll make it easier to cover the both of us."
"Sorry, Stretch, but Neville makes a good point," Hermione said to the tall redhead.
"The only point is that none of you are doing this," Hagrid snapped.
"Yes, we are," Hermione answered sweetly. "You can argue about it long enough to make us break curfew but, in the end, we are doing this for you. Your job will be to make a suitable crate; possibly something with poles across the top to allow the riders to rest the crate on their brooms."
The massive man stared hard at the little bushy haired girl who simply smiled back at him. Finally, he threw up his arms.
"You are a hardheaded young woman. I don't deserve such friends," He said. "Now get yourselves back to the castle. I have a crate to build."