Chapter 11: Dragons and Nicolas Flamel
As school started back up again Hermione was incredibly disappointed with herself for not making any progress on Nicolas Flamel. Since the night in front of the mirror, Harry and Hermione had both agreed to put up the cloak until they had to use it again. That didn't stop the nightmares though. Every night Hermione and even Harry would wake up in a cold sweat each having the same dream that their parents would disappear in a flash of green light. Hermione even had trouble going back to sleep afterward.
Now the trio was back to skimming through library books whenever they had the opportunity. Harry and Hermione had less time than Ron, because of all the Quidditch practices that had been forced in. The Weasley twins and Hermione all moaned and groaned that Wood was becoming a fanatic, but Harry was on Wood's side. If they won the next game against Hufflepuff they'd take Slytherin's lead for the House cup. This would be the first time in Seven years that's happened.
While Hermione understood how important the match was she was really getting tired of Wood throwing things at her in between classes. If she didn't catch it he'd make her start practicing Aerials while Fred and George hit bludgers at her. So far she'd managed to dodge each time except for one and Fred felt so bad he didn't leave her side for hours afterward while Madame Pomfrey healed the sprain in her wrist.
One particularly wet practice, who are we kidding, they were all wet practices. The snow had been replaced by a never-ending torrent of rain. Anyways, one particularly wet practice Wood gave the team some bad news. He was furious with the Weasley twins who had started dive bombing each other and acting like they were about to fall off their brooms. "Will ye stop messing around! This is exactly what will lose us the match. Snape's refereeing this time and he'll be looking for anything excuse to knock points off Gryffindor."
George of course really did fall off his broom at the words. "Snape's refereeing!" He sputtered through a mouth full of mud. "When has he ever refereed a Quidditch match. He's not going to be fair if we overtake Slytherin." He continued while the rest of the team landed to complain too.
"It's not my fault! We'll just have to have a clean game so he can't do anything about it." Wood said with conviction. Just like that, the practice was back on. Right after everyone hung back to talk. Harry though immediately left the pitch thinking that Snape really was going to kill him. Hermione made a move to follow him but she was stopped by a pair of lanky arms wrapping around her waist. Looking up she rolled her eyes at Fred laughing.
"Okay I've got to go check on my brother, we'll discuss the prank tonight but really I've got to g, Fred," Hermione said trying not to show how worried she was that Snape was refereeing. Fred took one look into the small redhead's eyes and sighed letting her go.
"Tonight then Mione, and don't forget or else I'll prank you in front of the whole school." He warned with a goofy smile as he watched her run after Harry.
"Oi dear brother I'd say you have it bad for our partner in crime." George grinned from beside him causing Fred to sputter.
"What! She's an ickle firstie, there is no way I like her as anything more than just a friend!" Fred glared at his brother.
The truth was Hermione was just like another little sister to George. He was honestly ecstatic with the idea of her and Fred, she just got the two of them. She'd never make them choose between her and the other, she knew that they were a packaged deal.
When Hermione caught up to Harry he was just walking into the common room. That's where she saw Ron and Seamus playing chess. Hermione still refused to play because she hated losing especially to Ron. "Don't talk to me just yet I'm trying to concentrate," Ron said looking up but then stopping and frowning. "The two of you look horrible!"
Sighing quietly Harry and Hermione began telling the two about Snape's sudden sinister desire to be a Quidditch referee. "Don't play!" Seamus said immediately.
"Say your ill!" Ron suggested nodding to Seamus.
"Pretend to break your leg, although if both of you do it that might be a bit suspicious."
"Wait really break your legs!" Ron grinned gleefully.
"This is not a joke Ronald!" Hermione frowned hitting him in the shoulder causing Ron to grumble angrily.
"I can't! I'm the only seeker, and Hermione can't either the reserve chasers don't know the plays like she does."
At that moment Neville toppled into the common room. No one quite knew how he managed to get through the portrait hole because his legs had been stuck together with what was easily recognized as the leg-locker curse. "Who did this to you?" Hermione frowned helping him sit down.
"Malfoy, I met him outside the library said he was looking for someone to practice that on." Neville stammered looking down.
"Go to Professor McGonagall," Hermione urged rubbing the boys' shoulder comfortingly.
"No I don't want to cause any more trouble," Neville argued stubbornly.
"You've got to stand up to him Neville! He's used to walking all over people," Ron said angrily.
"No need to tell me I'm not brave enough to be in Gryffindor Malfoys already done that," Neville said glumly causing Hermione to take his face in her hands and kneel in front of him making him meet her fiery eyes.
"Then stop proving him right! Being brave isn't hereditary it's a choice Neville and if you didn't have it in you then the sorting hat would've never put you in here, to begin with. You're smart and loyal, and a great friend so stop listening to that stupid little prat and listen to us your friends!" Hermione said angrily looking away as Neville looked like he would cry from her kind words. "If anyone deserves to be a Gryffindor Neville it's you, we just have to find a way to get you to show it," she said in a much nicer voice.
"Here Neville have a chocolate frog." Harry smiled handing the boy the container. To which Neville eagerly accepted popping the candy in his mouth and handing Harry the card. It was another card containing Dumbledore but when Harry read the back out of habit his eyes widened. Right there plain as day was the name Nicolas Flamel. "Hermione! I've found it! I knew I'd seen the name somewhere." Harry said handing the card to his sister.
Hermione's eyes widened as she stood up. "We'll be right back Neville I promise." Hermione smiled casting the counter curse to help Neville out of his bind. "C'mon Ronald!" Hermione said impatiently as Ron finally beat Seamus and followed his two best friends.
"Where are we going?" Ron asked looking annoyed as he followed them.
"To the library Ronald," Hermione said over her shoulder walking into the room and immediately going to a book on the shelf pulling it out and flipping through pages. "I knew I'd heard that name. Okay, so it says here Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone, also known as the Philosophers stone." Harry and Ron just looked at her blankly causing Hermione to groan.
"Oh honestly don't you two read, I swear Fred and George understand more than you two, and they refuse to step foot in the library. The stone can make metal into gold, and creates an elixir of eternal life." Hermione said annoyed looking at the boys. "That's got to be what Fluffy is guarding!"
"It makes sense, I mean who wouldn't want eternal life, and riches galore." Harry nodded sitting back and sighing.
The three continued to discuss the stone the next day all through class. But as the Quidditch game neared the subject was more or less dropped. As Harry and Hermione sat with their team everyone was moaning about how unfair the game was going to be. Hermione had a death grip on Harry's hand and she chewed on her lip. She wasn't going to let anyone kill her or her brother. Even though she knew Snape's attack had been specifically used on Harry she couldn't help but feel that she was going to be targeted too. Hermione listened as Wood gave his pep talk trying not to laugh as Fred and George mouthed along and made the motions behind him. Then it was time for the game to begin.
As the players took their spots and the whistle was blown Hermione's eyes automatically went to Snape. She knew Wood had taken Harry aside asking him to catch the Snitch as early as possible and she shook her head. Catching the Quaffle she started zooming at the head of the formation Fred and George flanking her as they hit away bludgers aimed to take her out. She threw the ball easily through the Hufflepuff Keepers goal and the crowd roared. She high fived Angelina and grinned as Alicia whistled.
The three girls worked well together, and no one could deny how strong the Gryffindors team was this year. That's when Hermione heard the foul called unjustly on a Hufflepuff chaser and shook her head looking at Snape. She'd never seen him look so angry before. But the fact that Dumbledore had come to watch the match did settle her nerves. She knew Snape wouldn't pull anything as long as Dumbledore was watching.
Shaking her head she got back into the game dodging other players and bludgers alike and capturing the Quaffle in midair and zooming towards the other side of the pitch lobbing the ball to Angelina. That's when she saw Harry going into a spectacular dive and shaking her head she saw the flash of gold that he was after. Grinning when Harry held the golden ball above his head and looking at the furious looking Snape. It was clear that Gryffindor won.
Back in the locker rooms Wood was excitedly cheering their team on and clapping Harry on the back. Hermione was in the girl's shower washing up and pulling on her Weasley jumper and a pair of jeans walking over to Harry. She grins at her brother playfully bumping her hip with his. "The Potter twins two of the finest Quidditch players to grace the pitch in years." She teased starting to put her stuff away but frowning when she looked out. "Who's going into the forest?"
Harry looked out where she was looking and frowned slinging his leg over his broom. "I bet its Snape. Get on." Hermione did as she was told getting on the broom behind Harry the two silently following after the mysterious figure. That's when they heard Snape's voice. Putting her hand over her own mouth and her other over Harry's they quietly listened. They could just make out Snape in a shadowy clearing with Quirrell.
"D-Don't know w-why y-you w-wanted t-to meet m-me here o-of a-all p-places Severus."
"I thought we'd keep this private," said Snape, his voice cold and menacing. "Students aren't supposed to know about the Sorcerer's Stone after all." Harry leaned forward only to be pulled back by his sister trying to catch what Quirrell was mumbling but Snape interrupted him. "Have you found out how to get past that beast of Hagrid's yet?"
"I-I d-don't know w-what you…"
"You know perfectly well what I mean!" An owl hooted after that causing Harry to jump and nearly knock both himself and Hermione out of the tree where the broom was hovering. Once they situated themselves they could only hear one more sentence uttered by Snape. "Very well, I'll give you more time but you'll do well to remember where your loyalties lie." And with that Snape put on the hood and stalked away leaving a very pale Quirrell in his wake. Making their way back to the broom shed Hermione shook her head as Harry put his Nimbus up.
Walking into the castle both Harry and Hermione were almost tackled by Ron. "WE WON! I gave Malfoy a black eye, and Neville tried to take on Crabbe and Goyle singlehandedly. Only he's still in the infirmary, but Madame Pomfrey says he'll be just fine once he wakes up. Talk about showing Slytherin! We're having a party in the common room, Fred and George stole some cake and stuff from the kitchens now c'mon!" Ron grinned dragging the two back to the common room.
The moment they walked in they were met with deafening cheers. Fred and George had Harry up on their shoulders and everyone was chanting "Potter!" Hermione smiled slightly, able to relax but her mind still on Snape and Quirrell. She was glad for once Harry and herself had proven they weren't just a famous name. The two had actually achieved something that was all on them. Sitting by the fire alone she bit her lip lost in thought and trying to figure out what Snape was trying to do, and when he was going to do it.
That's when she felt the warmth of another body beside her and looking up she grinned at Fred. "Okay, so we're all set for tomorrow right? We've got the hair color changer in the shampoo, the bucket and brushes have been charmed. This is going to be great." She smiled at him only to notice that he was looking at her strangely. Tilting her head she laughs, "You okay Freddie?"
Fred snapped out of it when she asked her question and frowned slightly to himself but then just smiled at his friend. "Of course I am Mione, sorry it's just your eyes look awesome in the light of the fire." That caused a red tint to appear on Hermione's face making her push her friend.
"Shut up." She laughed and looked around at everyone seeing George flirting with Angelina. "Why aren't you with George? You know Alicia has a huge crush on you right?" The moment she said it she felt an unfamiliar pang. Shaking her head she knew it was because she had a crush on the red-headed twin as well. But she would never admit it to Fred or George, she valued their friendship too much to ruin it.
"Yeah I know she tried to kiss me earlier." Fred shrugged as he leaned his head back against the seat. "But I like someone else, and I don't think she likes me." He looked at Mione trying to convey with his eyes what his words were lacking.
"Are you kidding me? Even the Slytherin girls talk about how much they'd like to date you or George, Fred. Anyone that didn't like you is an idiot." She told him honestly shaking her head with a smile. "I mean you're funny, sometimes I think you're even funnier than George. And you're both handsome, but you've got a bit more of that bad boy side to you and girls love that. Then add to the fact you're a total softie underneath. Fred Weasley, you're every girl's dream man."
Then just like that Fred leaned forward, a pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. That caused Hermione's face to turn cherry red and the words to die in her throat. Looking at Fred her stomach erupted into butterflies and she looked down.
"Sorry, it's just you always separate me and George. Even when we're together we aren't Fred and George were just Fred and George. If that makes sense." Fred said his ears turning red as he tried to find the words.
"Fred it's okay! I get it we're best friends, I think you're allowed to give me friendly pecks. It's not like we're snogging or anything. Anyways I'm going to bed and I'll see you bright and early with George that way we can set up the prank." Hermione laughed playfully pushing her friend and then going up to her bedroom a soft smile on her cheeks as she thought about Fred's lips so close to her own.
The next morning Hermione was up earlier than all the other girls in her dorm. Getting dressed she walked down to the common room waiting for the twins. Grinning up at them when they triumphantly show her the shampoo she grins. "Okay, so I think it should start with his first class of the day. Then at the feast, we'll finish it off with the color changing shampoo. I think it'll only last a week. I would try it on my hair, but Christmas has already past and I'd rather not get caught red-handed. Or green haired." She explained the twins quickly agreeing, causing the twins to set up everything and Hermione to stay on guard. Biting her lip once they were out the trio went to breakfast sitting across from Lee who was still giving Alicia googoo eyes.
Throughout the entire day, that talk of the school was Professor Snape and the charmed objects that washed his hair routinely every half hour. Smirking as Hermione sat with Harry and Ron at the feast she looked over at the Weasley twins smirking. Snape's reaction had been well worth the wait for the prank. Every time he'd try and dodge everything getting angrier and angrier. He even tried to destroy the bucket and brushes but that just made them wash harder.
Now as the half-hour approached it was easy to see Snape was getting weary he looked like he might bolt and his eyes were shifting everywhere. Then right on time out of nowhere the brushes attacked with the special shampoo scrubbing and scrubbing until in crescendo the bucket dropped over his head and then everything burst into multicolored bubbles. Hermione's own special touch covering Snape and drying him off at the same time. Then when the bubbles vanished there sat Snape with Emerald Green hair causing the entire hall even the Slytherins to fall down laughing.
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With only ten weeks left to go until the end of the term, Hermione had started studying her butt off. Even making Ron and Harry study with her. The finals were mandatory if you wanted to go onto year two at Hogwarts. Even Neville was studying with the trio, and Fred and George were quizzing Hermione whenever the opportunity arose. It had been a month since the prank on Snape and everyone agreed that it was the best that the Weasley's had pulled yet. Hermione humbly played down her part only for Fred and George to build it back up.
The three had come to the conclusion that Quirrell was stronger than they had previously thought. They knew that if Quirrell lost his nerve the stone would be lost to them forever. The three also would press their ears again the door leading to the third-floor corridor to check on Fluffy. Hermione and Harry would try to give their professor encouraging smiles whenever they passed him the corridors. Ron had even started telling people off for laughing at his stutter.
Hermione had begun studying like crazy, which in turn drove Harry and Ron crazy because she'd nag at them every chance she got. Unfortunately, the teachers seemed to think everyone should be studying more as well. They piled so much homework on their students that the Easter holidays weren't half as much fun as the Christmas ones.
In fact, the trio spent most of their free time in the library, where Ron after moaning and groaning about how bored he was until he finally saw Hagrid. "Hagrid! What are you doing in the library?"
Hagrid shuffled into view hiding something behind his back and looking around shiftily. "Eh Jus' lookin'." He said uncomfortably. "What about you three? Not still trying to find out about ole' Nicolas Flamel are ya?"
"No, we found out about him ages ago," Ron said smugly. "And we know what the dog is guarding, it a Sorcerers St…"
"Shh!" Hagrid hushed them fiercely.
"We actually needed to ask you some questions about that," Harry said looking up at his friend.
"Okay! But not here, students aren't supposed to know, they'll think I told you. Come by my hut later tonight and don't tell anyone." Hagrid said seriously hurrying out of the library.
"What do you suppose he was hiding behind his back?" Hermione asked the boys.
"I don't know but I'm going to look in the section he was in," Ron said determinedly getting up. He came back a few minutes later slamming his books down on the table nervously. "Dragons!" He whispered looking at his friends. "Hagrid was looking up stuff about dragons!"
"Oh that's nothing new, Hagrid's always wanted a dragon," Hermione said shrugging.
"Yeah, he told us that the first time we ever met him." Harry agreed looking at Ron.
"But it's against our laws! Besides, you can't tame dragons. You should see the burns Charlie gets from just working with the wild one in Romania."
"So there aren't wild dragons in Britain?" Asked Harry confused.
"Of course there are! Ministry has a job keeping the muggles unaware!"
"So what on earth is Hagrid up to then?" Hermione asked frowning.
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When the trio knocked on the huge hut door they were surprised to see all the curtains were closed. "Who is it?" Hagrid called before allowing them into the hut. It was stifling warm inside even though it was already a hot day. Hagrid had a fire going, he offered them tea and sandwiches to which they all politely refused. "Ye came to asked me something?" Hagrid started looking uncomfortable.
"Yes," said Harry there was no point beating around the bush.
"We were wondering if you could tell us what else is guarding the stone beside Fluffy." Hermione finished her twins thought.
"No, I can't because 1 I don't know myself, and 2 that stone's here for a good reason. It was almost stolen out of Gringotts, although I imagine you lot have worked that out for yourselves, haven't you? Beats me how you even know about Fluffy."
"Oh c'mon Hagrid you might not be able to tell us…" Started Hermione sounding annoyed.
"But you do know, I mean you know everything that happens around here." Finished Harry his tone as flattering as he could make it. Hagrid's beard twitched, and the two could tell that he was close to giving them the information they wanted.
"We were really only wondering who was doing the guarding really. We want to know who Dumbledore trusts enough to help him, apart from you of course." Hermione continued quickly dropping her annoyance and taking her brother's tactic of flattery.
Hagrid's chest swelled with pride at these last words looking at the three. Harry and Ron beamed at each other, and then Hermione. "Well, I don't suppose it'd hurt to tell ya. Let's see he borrowed Fluffy from me, and some of the other teachers did enchantments. "Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall." He began ticking them off on his large fingers. "Professor Quirrell, Dumbledore himself did something of course and… Hang on I've forgotten someone… Oh yeah, Professor Snape."
"Snape?" Gasped Ron looking at Harry and Hermione in confusion.
"Yeah yer not still on about him being after the stone are ye? Look Snape helped protect the stone, he's not about to steal it." Immediately Harry Ron and Hermione started thinking the same thing. If Snape had been one of the ones tasked with guarding the stone, he obviously could've easily figured out how to get through the other Teacher's enchantments, except for Quirrell's it would seem, and of course how to get past Fluffy.
"Hagrid you're the only one who knows how to get past Fluffy right? And you wouldn't tell anyone else how either?" Harry asked the giant man.
"Not a soul knows, but me and Dumbledore," Hagrid told the group proudly watching in amusement as they all sagged in relief.
"Hagrid could we open a window? It's stifling in here." Hermione said fanning herself.
"Sorry can't," Hagrid said, and Harry noticed how as he said it he looked at the fire, and Harry followed his gaze looking too.
"Hagrid. What's that?" Harry asked, although he already knew what it was. In the very heart of the fire underneath the kettle was a huge black egg.
"Aww, that's uh…" Hagrid started fiddling nervously with the edge of his beard.
"Where'd you get it Hagrid?" Asked Ron as he moved to crouch over the fire to get a closer look at the egg. "Must've cost you a fortune," Ron said almost admiringly.
"Won it last night. I was down in the village having a few drinks, and playing a game of cards with a stranger. I think he was quite glad to get rid of it, to be honest."
"What are you going to do with it once it's hatched?" Asked Hermione exasperatedly.
"Well, I've been doin' some readin'." Said Hagrid walking to his bed and pulling a large book out from under his pillow. "Got this outta the Library. Dragon breedin' for pleasure and profit." He said proudly looking at the three dumbfounded eleven-year-olds. "It's a bit out of date o' course but it's all in here. Keep the egg in the fire, 'cause the mothers breathe on 'em see. And when it hatches feed 'em a bucket of brandy mixed with chicken's blood every half hour. And see here 'How to recognize different eggs.' What I've got there is a Norwegian Ridgeback, they're rare them."
Hagrid looked extremely pleased with himself, but Hermione didn't. "Hagrid you live in a wooden house!" She said loudly trying to get him to understand how there was no way his plan to take care of the baby dragon would work. Hagrid, of course, wasn't listening to reason as he hummed merrily while stoking the fire. So now the three had something else to worry about, what would ever happen to Hagrid if someone found out he was harboring an illegal dragon egg.
"Wonder what it's like to have a peaceful life?" Ron muttered one evening as the trio were struggling through the homework they'd been given. Hermione was driving the two nuts because she had started making the two of them study schedules, and she was also annoying the twins because she refused to stop studying long enough to have fun with them. So one night while Hermione sat alone in the library the twins snuck in.
They then proceeded to carry the auburn headed girl out by Fred tossing her over his shoulder. Even the crinkly old Librarian laughed at Hermione's yelling and trying to beat them hard enough so they'd let go. That night the two took her up on the astronomy tower where they proceeded to fill her in on everything they hadn't been able to because she was locked away studying.
The next morning when the mail came Harry received a messily scrawled out note with only two words. "It's hatching." Ron wanted to skip Herbology to go see it, but Hermione though admittedly less uptight since her night with the twins wasn't hearing of it.
"Hermione how many times are we going to be able to see a dragon egg hatching," Ron complained loudly.
"We have lessons Ronald, and we'll get in trouble. Of course, that's nothing compared to what Hagrid's going to be in when someone finds out what he's been doing."
"Shut up!" Harry said sharply to his sister who stared at him silently. Malfoy was just a few feet away and had stopped dead in his tracks to listen. Looking at the blonde haired brat Hermione sneered. "Hey, Malfoy heard Neville and Ron gave you quite the shiner, although I imagine it was a big improvement compared to what you usually look like," Hermione said causing the pale blonde to glare at her in anger.
"Oh yeah, Potter and what's that?" Malfoy sneered.
"The right side of a horse's bum hole," Hermione said watching as the pale blonde flushed and Harry and Ron roared with laughter. He quickly stomped away causing Hermione to roll her eyes at the silently muttered words that she couldn't quite catch.
"Hermione you've been spending way too much time with Fred and George," Ron said wiping away tears of mirth that were spilling from his eyes.
"Actually she hasn't been spending enough time with us." George chimed in wrapping an arm around Hermione's shoulders while Fred did the same the two easily fitting between the other two boys.
"Which we blame you two gits for, well that and her obsession with studying." Fred chimed in.
"But what did she do to make you think of us Ronniekins?" George asked his little brother with a smirk as Ron's ears heated up.
"She told Malfoy he looked better with the black eye because normally he looked like a horse's bum hole," Harry said clutching his aching sides only to break out into laughter along with the twins.
"Well damn." Fred grinned walking with the first years of their class. "We wish we could've seen it." He said with a grin and a sigh. "Try not to do anything too funny without us there to document it, Mione," Fred called giving a little wave as he and George started walking to their own class.
When the trio walked into class Harry decided he didn't like the look on Malfoy's face, but sighing he tuned in and out as Ron and Hermione argued until class started. Finally, Hermione agreed to run down to the hut with the boys during morning break.
At the end of their lesson, the three dropped their bags off and instantly took off outside to the edge of the grounds. Hagrid greeted them outside looking flushed and excited. "It's nearly out." He grinned ushering them inside where the egg was lying on the table. There were deep cracks in the shell, and something could be seen moving inside. There was also an audible clicking noise sounding from within. The three hurriedly brought chairs up to the table watching in amazement.
All at once there was a scraping noise and the egg split open. The baby dragon flopped onto the table, and while it wasn't exactly pretty there was something amazing about it. Although Harry thought it looked like a crumble black umbrella, and Hermione would later agree, whilst Ron would just ask what exactly an umbrella was. It seemed he had never known what to call the pink instrument of Hagrid's.
The dragon's wings were much too large for its jet black body. It had a long snout, with large nostrils, big orange eyes, and the stubs of horns sticking out of its narrow head. Hagrid looked at the creature sniffing. "Isn't he beautiful?" He said while reaching out a hand to stroke its scaly skin. The Dragon snapped at his fingers displaying razor-sharp teeth. "Bless 'im he knows 'is Mummy," Hagrid said happily.
"Hagrid? How fast do Norwegian ridgebacks grow exactly?" Hermione asked looking at the reptile with a bit of disgust.
Hagrid was about to answer when the color suddenly drained from his face. Leaping to his feet he ran to the window peering out. "What's the matter?" Asked Ron looking at the half-giant nervously.
"Someone was looking through the gaps in the curtains," Hagrid said frowning. "It's a kid he's running back to the school."
Harry shot out of his seat and made his way to the window seeing the slicked back blonde hair of none other than Draco Malfoy.
Something about the knowing smirk on Malfoys face made the trio very uneasy throughout the next week. The three spent their time in Hagrid's darkened hut trying to reason with him. "Just let him go." Harry urged finally looking at the huge man with annoyance.
"I can't." Hagrid blubbered. "He's too little he'd die." Looking at the dragon the three shook their heads. The creature had grown three times its original size in just a week. It was keeping Hagrid from his duties around the school, and hit hut was littered with chicken feathers and brandy bottles. "He really knows me now. I've decided to call him Norbert. Now watch this. Norbert. Norbert. Where's Mummy?"
"He's really lost his marbles," Ron muttered.
"Hagrid! Give it two weeks and Norbert's going to be as long as your house," Harry said loudly looking at his friend.
Hagrid bit his lip and looked down. "I know, I know I can't keep him forever, but I can't just dump him. I can't."
Harry suddenly turned to the ginger to his left and grinned. "Charlie!" He said.
"You're losing it too, I'm Ron Harry. Ron!"
"He's not calling you Charlie you git, he's saying that Charlie could take Norbert with him to Romania," Hermione said beaming at her twin for his quick thinking.
"Brilliant!" Said Ron suddenly now the understood what was happening. "How about it Hagrid?"
It took a bit of persuading but in the end, Hagrid agreed that they could send an owl to Charlie, and ask if he'd take in Norbert.
The following week seemed to drag until Tuesday night found Harry and Hermione sitting alone in the Common room. That was when the portrait hole burst open and Ron rushed in pulling off Harry's invisibility cloak. He'd been down at Hagrid's hut helping him feed Norbert. The growing dragon was now eating dead rats by the crate.
"He bit me!" Ron said showing the two siblings his hand wrapped in a bloody handkerchief. "I'm not going to be able to hold a quill for a week! I tell you next to Crookshanks that dragon is the most horrible animal I've ever met. But the way Hagrid goes on about it, you'd think it was a fluffy little bunny rabbit. When it bit me he told me off for frightening it, and when I left he was singing it a lullaby."
Ron was interrupted by a tap at the dark window and Harry shot up. "It's Hedwig." He said excitedly hurrying to let her in. The three quickly put their heads together to read the response, Hermione even forgetting she was angry at Ron for insulting her cat.
Dear Ron,
How are you? Thanks for the letter. I'd be glad to take the Norwegian Ridgeback, but it won't be easy getting it here. I think the best thing would be to send him over with some friends of mine who are going to be visiting me next week. The trouble is they mustn't be seen carrying an illegal dragon. Could you get the Ridgeback up to the tallest tower on Saturday? They can meet you there and take him off while it's still dark. Send me an answer as soon as possible.
Love,
Charlie
"It shouldn't be too hard, we've got the invisibility cloak, we should be able to hide three of us and Norbert." It was a sign of how bad the last week had been that the other two agreed with him.
Unfortunately, as they waited for Saturday to come Ron's hand started seeping out a green liquid, and had swollen to three times its normal size. It appeared that Norbert's fangs were infected, and he had to go to the infirmary immediately on Thursday morning. "I told her a dog bit me, but I don't think she believes me," Ron told his two best friends who'd come to visit him after classes on Friday evening.
"Of course she doesn't, no dog can make someone leak green puss from a wound," Hermione said in an annoyed tone while Ron glared at her.
"Fine if you're so smart what would you have said?"
"That you were in the black lake when something bit you. The reason you were in the black lake was Malfoy threw the sweater your mother made for you in the water so you were trying to retrieve it. You don't know what bit you, but you didn't think anything of it, until your hand started swelling." Hermione said in a matter of fact tone crossing her arms. Ron just gave her his best Weasley scowl before looking down away from her amber eyes.
Saturday came and Ron was still getting treated, but he was excited to be able to get rid of the bloody beast that had put him there. Under the cover of the invisibility cloak, Harry and Hermione snuck down to Hagrid's hut where a very teary-eyed Hagrid was loading Norbert up into a crate. The beast was snapping at Hagrid's hands and his nostrils released a near constant puff of smoke. "Bye bye Norbert. Mummy won't ever forget you." Hagrid sniffled.
The two would never quite know how they managed to lug the crate into the castles and up the steps to the tallest tower. "Nearly there." Harry panted, even with all his Quidditch training his muscles were burning from the exertion and even Hermione was panting.
Then a sudden movement ahead of them caused them to nearly drop the crate. Forgetting that they were under the invisibility cloak they shrank into the shadows staring as two figures came forward. It appeared that they were grappling with each other, and then a lamp flared revealing Draco Malfoy and none other than Minerva McGonagall, in a bathrobe and a hair net, leading Malfoy by the ear. "Detention!" She shouted, "And twenty points from Slytherin. Wandering around in the middle of the night how dare you!"
"You don't understand Professor, Harry Potter's coming, and he's got a dragon!"
"What utter rubbish. How dare you tell such lies. C'mon I shall see Professor Snape about you Malfoy."
The steep spiral staircase seemed the easiest thing in the world after that. Not until they'd stepped out into the night air did they throw off the cloak, glad to be able to breathe properly again. Hermione practically started dancing. "Malfoy's got detention! I could sing!"
"Yeah well don't. I've heard your singing, and I don't want to hear it again." Harry teased her groaning as she hit his arm.
"Like you can talk Harry!" She accused quietly shaking her head. The two waited for about ten more minutes listening to Norbert thrash around in his crate. Then four figures appeared on broomsticks.
Charlie's friends were a cheery bunch and they proudly showed the Potter's the harness they'd made to carry Norbert in. Smirking at them they loaded the crate up and were gone quickly. Harry and Hermione were watching with baited breath until Norbert was officially out of there sight and then Hermione let out a relieved laugh. "Nothing ever goes that easy for us!" She said proudly launching herself into Harry's arms hugging her brother tightly.
"I know what you mean." Harry grinned at his sister hugging her back. With that, the two of them started walking down the spiral staircase happily, their hearts light without Norbert there to weigh down upon them. When they reached the corridor at the bottom of the steps Flich's face was suddenly illuminated out of the darkness. Looking at one another Harry realized that they'd forgotten the cloak.
"Well well, we are in trouble." He whispered sinisterly looking between the two with a smirk. Things couldn't have been worse because Filch lead them straight to McGonagall's study.
Hermione just knew they would be sent back to live with the Dudley's, she knew they'd be separated for months on end, until the summer where they'd curl up in their bedroom underneath the stairs and try to catch up. The very idea of being separated from Harry was terrifying, so much so it made her feel sick.
When the two thought things couldn't be worse they were violently mistaken. When they reached the door to McGonagall's study a pale-faced Neville was emerging with his head of house right behind him. "HARRY! HERMIONE!" He frowned looking at the two twins. "I was trying to find you to warn you. Malfoy said he was going to catch you, he said you had a drag…" Harry and Hermione gaped at him, and Harry stopped the sentence by shaking his head violently. A fact that didn't go unnoticed by McGonagall. Towering over the three the woman looked more likely to breathe fire than Norbert had.
"I would never have believed it if you two hadn't been caught red-handed. Mr. Filch says you were coming down from the astronomy tower, which is off limits to all students except for classes, and it is 1 a.m. Now I want the two of you to explain yourselves immediately!" McGonagall growled causing the twins to look at one another, and then look down quickly.
McGonagall was fuming ten minutes later when neither twin had admitted to anything. "I suppose this was all just a trick for Mr. Malfoy, and now you've mixed poor Longbottom up in it too. You two should be ashamed! Now I'll be taking fifty points from the three of you, and you will al serve detention. Now since I don't trust you to get to your common room I will be walking you there now march."
With sullen faces, the three got up and walked to their common room. Neville didn't even look at the two Potter's it seemed that he was really upset. Frowning Hermione gave the password and the three walked into the common room. Rubbing her face Hermione looked at Harry and she sighed. "No use thinking about it now might as well get to bed." She reasoned and Harry just nodded silently trudging up the stairs and to his dorm Hermione following suit.
Sorry book one is taking me so long. It's sort of driving me crazy because I know what I want to do for the next books, but this one is giving me fits. Anyways you know the drill, read, review, favorite, and follow. Next chapter will hopefully be up soon. Forgive me for any typos, and or grammar related problems. Love you all. Peace.