Chapter 12

"Who the bloody hell would want to kidnap a Hogwarts teacher? What could they possibly gain from that?" Ron didn't understand how important this news was, and Hermione was the one to explain.

"Ron, think about it, the Professor knew how to get past the Hogwarts defenses that keep bad witches and wizards out. By kidnapping the Professor, they could torture him until he tells the kidnapper what he wants to know. Hogwarts is the safest place to be when there's a crisis, but if they know how to get into Hogwarts, then things could get really complicated really fast." Ron seemed to understand, and he stuttered before he spoke.

"You... you don't think the kidnapper wants to kidnap one of US do you?" Harry and Michael looked at one another and apparently they were both thinking the same thing. Michael looked back at Ron and spoke, "It's hard to tell but if it were one of You Know Who's old followers, maybe they're after Harry and me. Ya'know, to finish the job he never did…" Michael looked down. He didn't want to think about this, and he knew Harry didn't want to either. But if anyone were in danger more than anyone, it would be the two of them and they knew it. They had all been talking on a bench outside in the school's courtyard before Draco Malfoy came strutting over. "So Morgan, I saw your daddy on the front page trying to solve a kidnapping. Where was your dad, Potter?" Harry stood up, as did Michael, and Hermione was the one who stood in front of them to keep them from giving Malfoy what he had rightfully coming. "I would watch your tone, Malfoy." It was Harry who said it, and none of them had really expected it, but with Harry, surprises came in all sorts of forms.

Malfoy laughed and merely waved him off. "Please Potter; you haven't got the guts to do anything to me. And if you do, you'll be in detention for weeks. As for you Morgan, I'll just have my father talk with the Ministry and your daddy will be out of a job. Ah, the perks of being a pureblood are just so sweet, aren't they? Oh that's right, Granger isn't one." This time Ron stepped in front of her, and lucky enough Hagrid came over to break things up without even realizing it. "'Ello Ron, Hermione. What's got all'a ya's rattled up?" Malfoy smirked and left them, and they all sat back down on the benches while Hagrid stood above them. "Nothing, just this Ministry business about Professor Fernsby has us thinking. That's all." Hagrid didn't seem to grasp what they meant, but he just nodded and continued talking.

"Yer know, I might have somethin' that'll cheers you up! Come with me." He grabbed Ron with his right hand, Michael with his left and lifted them up. Apparently, he wasn't really asking so much as telling. Harry and Hermione looked at one another, and then stood up and followed Hagrid down to his cabin. He reached into a massive jar, and removed something that was covered with a blanket. He removed the blanket to reveal a giant egg. "It's a dragon egg! I won it off a gent' down at the pub. Not too sure 'ow, I'm not ter good at cards but I've always wanted to raise a dragon." Ron was inspecting the egg like it was something he'd been secretly interested in all this time. "This isn't just any egg, Hagrid. It's a Hungarian Horntail! You need to be careful with these; they're bloody vicious they are. Me brother, Charlie, is studying dragons in Romania and we go and visit him sometimes."

Hagrid scratched his head and walked over to his tea pot to fill it up with water. Hermione looked confused and looked as if she had a question to ask. Sure enough, a few came out. "Hagrid, you said you won this down at the pub? Which pub?" He spoke without turning around, as he was filling up the tea pot with water at the sink. "Well, from the Hog's Head up in Hogsmeade." She looked around at Ron, Harry, and Michael then asked her next question. "And what did he look like? Do you remember?"

Hagrid turned around and placed the pot on the stove then sat down in his chair next to the table, which his dog Fang then jumped on top of his lap and laid down. "Well err… no. Ya see, he 'ad his hood up, so I couldn't make out 'is face. Nice bloke though, asking about Hogwarts and surch, wonderin' who 'elped make is so secure and all. I told him 'at Professor Dumbledore recruited Professor Fernsby just after the First Wizarding War, and not 'any people know 'at Professor Fernsby was taken by You Know Who to try ter gain the allegiances of some o' the creatures. Burt he wouldn't do it. Professor Fernsby helped Dumbledore put up the invisible walls around the castle grounds, except the Forbidden Forest so the animals in it wouldn't be harmed if they wandered past the wall." Hermione's eyes widened.

"You told the stranger all this? Hagrid that could've been the person that kidnapped Professor Fernsby, trying to bribe you into telling him some of the secrets to Hogwarts!" Michael looked from Harry, to Ron, back to Harry, and then to Hagrid. Something wasn't right here. It seems a bit convenient that this stranger just happened to have a dragon egg in his pocket and he had to bring it up. "Hagrid, don't you think it's a bit odd that a stranger just happened to have exactly what you've been looking for? I mean, it's a bit odd that a stranger would be carrying around a dragon egg just for the hell of it."

Hermione spoke almost instantly after Michael spoke. "Exactly, Hagrid. Something's not right about that. You need to tell Dumbledore what happened!" At this Hagrid stood up, causing the dog to fall off his lap. He waved his arm and said, "Absolutely not. Your not abut to blame the kidnappin' of Professor Fernsby on me just 'cause I won a dragon egg in a game o' cards. No sir." He went over to check his tea, and then Hermione stood up and said "Fine. But someone else could get hurt in all this Hagrid. Let's just hope it isn't you." And left his cabin. Michael stood up and followed her, while Harry and Ron stayed behind to have a cup of tea with Hagrid to try to calm him down. Hermione had a way of rattling people up because everything she said was logical. It all made sense, and the last thing Harry and Ron wanted to happen to Hagrid was to lose it.

Michael ran after Hermione to catch up to her, and just as he did she started her rant that he knew was about to come. "He being silly, worrying about himself rather than the whole school's safety. Hagrid is my friend but honestly, you have to agree here that things aren't right. He should tell Dumbledore about this before something terrible happens. Hell, I should tell Dumbledore. We all know how he is, and we all know he would be more than understanding about it, but he would also put up the necessary precautions that this school needs."

Michael had a hard time finding a rhythm to his step. He was half-walking and half-jogging to keep up with her, and it was distracting him to say the least. "Hermione… you just… have to… understand where he's… coming from. Look stop." He grabbed her arm to make her relax to a halt, and when she did he finally had time to speak. "Look at it from Hagrid's point of view. Hogwarts is his home, he would never let something happen to it, and if something did it would hurt him more than we can imagine. Yes, I think what he did was idiotic but if there's something you really want sitting right in front of you don't you think you'd lose some part of that brilliant mind of yours because of a pull towards that something? Hagrid was lured into that egg by whoever played that game of cards with him, but that may not mean it's something we have to worry about right now. Just try to be rational about this." He let go of her arm, without even realizing he had gripped onto it the entire time he spoke. When he released, Hermione crossed her arms and looked down at her feet.

"I 'spose you're right. It just doesn't make sense to me, I guess. I'm going to head up to the common room and then to the library if you want to come join me later." She turned and left Michael standing there, and then he turned back around and went into Hagrid's cabin to have some tea with his friends.

The week following kept all of their minds at bay, studying for their test before the holidays and making sure that all their essays and work had been completed on time. Although for Michael and Hermione, they were more worried about if their work was good enough, and were double and triple checking it, while Harry and Ron were too busy trying to catch glances of their friend's work in order to help their papers. Hermione would only help them build their own paragraphs, while Michael was much more lenient about them copying and would whole-heartedly give them his work, just so much as they changed enough things so the Professor's wouldn't notice. After all, you can't have someone else create your writing style. At last, the final class had ended before holiday break, and the four of them headed back to the common room.

"So, what are the three boys' doing for their holiday?" Hermione asked. Michael wasn't sure what Harry was going to do, but he was sure that Ron was going home.

"Actually, my parents are visiting my brother Charlie in Romania this holiday so I've decided to stay at school with Harry over Christmas holidays. How 'bout you Michael?"

He tugged on his shoulder strap of his bag and then replied, "Well, I was planning on going home for the holidays. But my father said he wouldn't mind if I stayed here to enjoy it with you guys." They had just reached the stairs and were making their way up before an idea popped into Michael's head. "Instead of us staying here, how 'bout you guys come to my house for the holidays? My father already told me he wouldn't mind, plus he's an Auror at the Ministry, I bet he'd have loads of stories to tell us! Maybe we could get some answers on this kidnapping of Professor Fernsby, since my father is the Auror working on it." He looked at Ron first, then Harry, and noticed two opposite faces. Ron looked rather excited about the idea, while Harry on the other hand looked a bit upset. "I'm sorry Harry, I didn't mean to upset you or anything…" He wasn't sure what was wrong, but then Harry raised his voice.

"It's not that, I just don't want to be a burden on your father and get in the way of your celebrations of Christmas." He looked down as he walked up the steps, trying to avoid any eye contact. Michael already knew what he was going to reply to him. "Harry, if anything, with the two of you their it'll be one of the best holiday's I ever had. And besides, I wasn't so much asking as I was telling." He elbowed Harry lightly on the side and Harry smiled and elbowed him back, pushing him into Ron who then fell into Hermione. "Good, now that that's settled I suggest we all go and pack so we don't have to do it later. Any takers?" Hermione agreed, and Harry nodded, but Michael swore he could've heard Ron make a groan, and then a half-hearted 'alright'. Michael was actually excited for Christmas this year. It wasn't exactly his or his father's favorite holiday, maybe because Michael's mother wasn't there to celebrate it with him or his father .But for some odd reason, he felt like this Christmas was going to be different, perhaps even change his views on the holiday all together. Harry and Ron were practically been like his family since he had gotten to Hogwarts, who better than to spend his holidays with.

After they all got to the common room, Hermione went up her respective stairs, and the boys' went up the other. Once they got to their dormitory, they all started packing their things, making sure not to forget anything, until suddenly Harry spoke. "What about Hedwig? I don't want to leave her here over the holiday; she'll probably hate me when I come back." Michael straightened his posture since he was previously bent over his bed, and then looked at Harry. "You can take her with us; it'll be good for Hedwig and Ollie to hunt together, rather than being alone all day." To that, he nodded and they all finished their packing. After that, they went down to the common room to find Fred and George giving out mysterious toys to Seamus and Neville. They instructed Neville to squeeze the telescope, and suddenly a tiny fist erupted from the end of it and slammed Neville square in the eye. The twins and Seamus started laughing hysterically, and Harry Ron and Michael couldn't help but laugh either. Then the Weasley's pulled themselves together, and handed Neville a bottle of something.

"Bruise removal paste. It's the only way to get that off your face." Then they walked away, and stopped in front of Ron, Harry, and Michael. "We've been enjoying those. Let's hope mum doesn't find out that we're actually using them or she'll have a fit." Fred said it in between his giggles, and then George interrupted. "So, Ron, are you staying here for Christmas? Angelina Johnson is having a bunch of people over her house, and we were thinking we'd just go there since mum and dad are off to Romania again."

Ron raised his eyebrows, and then gave his reply. "Nope, Michael's dad invited Harry and I over for the holidays. And does mum know you two going to Angelina's?" The twins looked at one another, then back at Ron and replied simultaneously. "Nope." Then Fred continued. "And we plan to keep it that way." George winked, and then the two twins headed up the stairs to their dormitory. They sat down on the couch and started discussing things like past Christmases and then Michael and Ron started arguing about professional Quidditch, then Ron pulled over the table with a chess board on it to play Harry in wizard's chess. They waited until four o'clock, and then got ready to head down to the group meeting to head over to the train. The train ride back was similar; they discussed random topics, but were never bored by them. Sometimes Ron and Michael would argue about something stupid that they disagreed on and then Harry would buy something off the trolley for them and they would talk about the different sweets, and enjoy the Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans as each of them would enjoy or endure the different flavors. Once they arrived back at platform 9 and three-quarters, Michael's father was waiting for him just like all the other parents, but not only for his son but two of his friends as well.

"Well 'ello boys" Michael's father stood almost two head's taller than all of them, so he was looking down at them.

Harry and Ron both replied with, "Hello, Mr. Morgan."

He waved a hand at them and said, "Please, Mr. Morgan was my father's name. Call me Kevin, now how about we do a vanishing charm and sent all your things straight to the house? That oughtta' make things easier." He waved his wand, and sure enough everything vanished before their eyes. "Alright, now let's get to the car." They ran through the wall, and started walking through King's Cross until they finally exited and made their way through the parking lot. Once they got there, Michael took the passenger seat while Ron and Harry took to the back seats, Ron on the driver's side and Harry to his other. He started the engine, and they were off.

"So, tell me boys, what was the best part of the first half of this term?" Kevin was interested, after all he had felt the same excitement plenty of times before.

Harry spoke first. "Well, I'd have to say my first Quidditch match."

Kevin's eyes widened, "Ah, so you're on the Gryffindor team? Sorry, Michael failed to mention that haha. What position Harry?"

Michael laughed and then Harry answered. "I play Seaker. My first match we won so it was a pretty cool moment."

"Ah, Seaker. I remember when I use to play Quidditch. I actually played under your dad, Harry. Brilliant, he was. Always knew of a quick way to score, and if things were rough he always had a way around them. Practically won every Quidditch cup for 6 straight years 'cause of him. I'm sure you're following in his footsteps." Kevin checked the rearview, he wasn't sure how Harry would react to any mention of his dad, and he hoped he didn't upset him in the first ten minutes of meeting him. Harry was looking out the window, then looked down into his lap and Kevin swore he saw him smile.

"Ron, how bout you? What was your favorite part?" Kevin averted his eyes back onto the road and Ron replied after a few seconds of 'Hmmm'ing. "I 'spose it was helping defeat that Troll. Not sure how we managed, but it will probably be my finest moment of the whole year." Kevin was aobut to speak before Michael did instead. "Actually, if it weren't for Harry and Michael, I'd probably be dead from that Troll."

Then Harry butted in, "Well, if you hadn't been protecting Hermione then you wouldn't have been in that situation to begin with." Kevin gave a quick glance at his son, then said sarcastically, "Oh gees, does Michael have a crush already? I figured I'd have at least two more years before this happened."

Kevin, Ron and Harry laughed, but Michael's face turned slightly pink and he looked out the window as he smiled from their joking. Kevin changed the subject back to their favorite parts of the term. "And how about you Michael? What was yours?"

Michael had to think for a few seconds before he was certain. Then he answered, "Probably after the Troll attack, when the four of us all became really good friends." Kevin kept his eyes on the road but couldn't help smiling at his son's loyalty and friendship. Then he pulled into the driveway and the four of them exited the car and entered the house. Kevin was starting to think this might be a holiday to remember.