Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Dahlia Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Chapter Fourteen
There was a strain in the dormitory. Not just in the dormitory, but in the whole school as well. The rumour has it that Katie Bell hadn't forgive Silena for spoiling her throw. And as Leanne had taken her side and Dahlia, Susan and Hannah clearly supported Cedric and the Hufflepuff team, Megan was often doing the arbitrator during their shouting matches. In the Great Hall, the animosity was at its height when they all found themselves covered in red pimples spelling CHEATERS on their face and their arms. The whole school laughed at them, the Gryffindors Quidditch team more than anyone else. Only Professor Sprout took their side. Even though she had no proof, she assigned the Weasley twins to a month of detention and a temporary ban of playing in the Quidditch team, despite Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore's protests that it was just an 'harmless prank' and a 'good laugh that helped us relieve the stress of upcoming exams'. Too bad they didn't play until the end of the year. As carefree as they may be, the Weasley twins were undeniably the best players they had.
The good mood didn't last long. The weekend after, the Hufflepuffs were crushed by the Ravenclaws 220-50. Cedric was taken out by a Bludger rather early in the game, which gave Ravenclaw Seeker Carla McDonnell a large leeway for catching the Snitch. The four Beaters ended up in the Hospital Wing when they began a war on the pitch. The only positive thing that came out of this mess was that the pranks shifted from Hufflepuff to Ravenclaw. Right now, they had one hundred and sixty points of difference with the Badgers. If they lost their match against Slytherin, and it would probably be the case, and the Gryffindors won their match against Ravenclaw, they could reach third place in the Championship. But all of this was far away, as the next game was on the second weekend of May.
When March faded and April began, so did the intensive revision. The free periods scattered in their schedule could no longer be used for relaxing and playing, but were dedicated to studying and completing homework. Dahlia was still a mess in Transfiguration, Potions and Astronomy, but her grades increased in Charms and DADA. The teachers piled so much homework on them that the Easter holidays weren't as much fun as the Christmas ones.
One Saturday evening found the thirteen Hufflepuffs seated in the library, the nose deep into old textbooks and the quills blackening rolls and rolls of parchment. They were talking in low voices so that Madam Pince couldn't hear them.
Cedric and Leah were alone in their corner, concentrated on Care of Magical Creatures. Neville was helping Ernie and Simon with Herbology problems and Dahlia was lecturing Hannah on History lessons. Susan and Justin were listening Eileen recapitulating the instructions for a Forgetfulness Potion. Maisie, Neil and Aaron were practising together their Transfigurations on hairpins. Everyone was doing one subject while listening simultaneously the others. Maybe it was not the best way to study, but the exams were a month and a half away.
"The twelve uses of dragon blood are: oven cleaner, spot remover, cure for verruca, Pepperup Potion, fire rituals, acid, poison and cure for said poison, offensive and defensive wards, wands and dragon hide clothing," recited Justin. "It makes no sense. I mean, some I get it, but how can you cast a spell with blood? And how is it both a poison and its antidote?"
"Wards are not always spell. Sometimes it's runes, and runes drawn in dragon blood are particularly used to detect friends from foes," explained Eileen to him. "For the poison, one drop in an open wound and it starts to destroy your blood cells. However, if you add an equal quantity just after, the dragon blood will destroy itself. It was used on swords and arrows for hunting and duelling, before the Killing Curse was invented."
"The Werewolf Code of Conduct of 1637 was a complete failure because no one wanted to admit being a werewolf," said Dahlia as Hannah was scribbling the answers on her parchment. "It was a common occurrence that newly-bitten wizards were often shamed and exiled by their family, and disowned for the Pure-bloods. The Werewolf Registry had the same problem and remained incomplete as for today. A werewolf is sometimes considered as a Being and sometimes as a Beast."
"Flobberworms are ten-inch brown worms whose mucus is a vital ingredient for the Wiggenweld Potion," was repeating Cedric as he wrote down his answers. "They manly eat lettuce and cabbage as they have no teeth. The Ministry classifies it as a X Beast, which means 'boring' and 'harmless to humans'."
"The Hurklump is also a X Beast. They look like fleshy pink mushrooms but they are animals. They act like weeds, spreading in an average-size garden in a few days. They mostly eat earthworms." X creatures and XXXXX creatures were approach in third-year, the former for their harmlessness and the later for their impossibility to work with. "Horklump juice is use in a lot of healing potions, including the Weggenweld Potion. Apothecaries often begins to build their fortune by selling Horklump juice, as it is very easy to obtain in large quantities."
"The Mandrake is a plant whose roots look like a human." Neville was sketching a very ugly baby with brown steams and green leaves for hair. Mandragora was neither on the first-year or the third-year curriculum, but he was reviewing the basics. "The cry of an adult Mandrake kill anyone who hear it. When it's in its infant stage, it will knock you out for a few hours. The Mandrake is used in a large variety of antidotes, the most common being the Restorative Draught for those who suffer from a magically-induced paralysis."
"Quiet!" Madam Pince's bark reached them from all the way down the aisles just after a low thud. "Hagrid, you'd do well to remember that people are studying here!"
"Funny that we only heard Madam Pince," snickered Hannah. "She screams louder than a banshee and a harpy combined."
"Don't say that where she can hear you," Dahlia stifled a giggle and tried to concentrate on her paragraph. Her homework on the Werewolf Code of Conduct done, she moved on to Emeric the Evil, a Dark Lord who took advantage of the extreme weather of 535-536 to terrorise the south of England. He was slaughtered in duel against Egbert the Egregious, who disappeared soon after. "Date of birth?"
"513."
"Parents' names?"
"Archibald and…" Hannah hesitated, "Sunn."
"Synne," corrected Dahlia. "Angles, both of them. Beginning of the rise to power?"
"532. No, 533. Oh, this is useless." She threw down her quill with a frustrated sigh. "I'm never gonna recall all of this at the exam."
"Of course you will," she said lightly. "You want to do something else? Change your mind?"
"That's an excellent idea. Potions?"
"Of course!"
Dahlia put away her copy of A History of Magic. She was getting short on ink and parchment and soon, she would have to owl some from Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley.
Potions were not something you could make outside the dungeons. The first reason was that potions required a stable environment, without temperature and humidity variating at all hours of the day and night. The second was that Hogwarts had not the necessary funds to buy extra ingredients for practising cutting, chopping and dicing on. The most they could do was learn the steps of making a potion by heart. And of course, Professor Snape loved to give them assignments on the properties of the ingredients and what reaction you obtained when you mix them together.
Technically, their next class was on Wednesday, so they didn't have any pressing homework. But they wanted to finish everything today so that they'd have a free day tomorrow. Snow had finally melt and the sun was shining bright since the beginning of the month. Not only that, but they would celebrate the twins' birthday under the sky, not buried in books and revision.
They needed a breath of fresh air after spending the last three months in the castle, with the exception of the Herbology and the Care of Magical Creature classes. Even the third-years had shunned the visit to Hogsmeade in order to prepare for the exams. Granted, they were six weeks away, but that didn't stop the teachers of intensifying their lessons. Hell, even the Gryffindors were studying seriously, with the exception of Hermione who had started in the beginning of March.
"Dittany?" Dahlia turned the pages of her textbook rapidly.
"Too simple."
"Moly?"
"Too little to talk about."
"Flobberworm mucus?"
"I don't really want to talk about mucus right now."
"Moondew?"
"Yes, that!"
Before any of them could start writing anything, Madam Pince emerged from the aisles, her wand in hand and a furious look on her face.
"I'm closing the library," she hissed. "Pack up and leave! Immediately!"
They all obeyed without complain when they saw she was seriously pissed off. The reason was clear enough. In the aisle dedicated to dragons, almost an entire row of books had fallen on the ground and some were badly damaged, everyone could see that. When they passed through the large double doors, they heard Madam Pince's enraged shouts at the remaining students.
"Who could do that?" murmured Susan. "No one is foolish enough to let books on the ground! The library is Madam Pince's territory, they should have known that it would cause troubles."
"Someone who doesn't care," scowled Eileen. "Or someone who wants to sabotage other students."
"It seems a little far-fetched, don't you think?" Leah was dubious. "Dragons are not a large part of the Care for Magical Creature curriculum. If I wanted to sabotage someone else's studies, I'd borrow all the books on… I don't know, Potions? Transfiguration if it's a Slytherin, Merlin knows Professor Snape will do everything he can to let them pass their exams."
"You'd do that?" Ernie was very amused. "And here it breaks the myth of the friendly Hufflepuff."
"Very funny," she let out a short laugh as they descended the marble staircase.
A bunch of Hufflepuffs was ahead of them, not doubt also expelled from the library. One by one, they slipped through the barrels concealing the entrance of the Common Room. When they emerged, they had the displeasing surprise to see that all the couches and cushions were taken. As no one wanted to sit on the floor, they bid each other goodnight and went to their dormitory.
Megan and Leanne were not there. By a common agreement, the three girls decided to enjoy the small pool in their bathroom. Dahlia had no swimsuit, but she put on a black camisole and panties. She tied her hair in a high bun, not wanting to wet them before going to bed. Before leaving the room, she heard a sharp crack indicating that house elves had taken her dirty laundry. When she entered the large bathroom, Hannah was sitting on the rim of the pool, one leg in the water with her wand resting on the tap to adjust the temperature. Susan was facing the mirror, trying to brush her light-brown curls with the help of a potion called the Sleekeazy's Hair Potion. She was putting large quantities in her hand before rubbing it all over her hair.
"I'll wash it out tomorrow," she told her with a smile. "I literally can't brush my hair without it, but I use an horrific amount each time. You understand why I always wear them in a plait, now?"
"Totally. Mine's always easy to brush, so I don't really know these kind of trouble."
"You, easy?" snickered Hannah. "Try straight hair and you'll find what's easy. However, static electricity is my bane. Rose or lavender?" she asked holding the two bath bombs in her hands.
"Lavender?" Susan looked at Dahlia's reflection. "It's less aggressive than rose."
"Lavender's good," she agreed.
Hannah dropped it in the pool and it immediately stated to dissolve. A soft scent filled the bathroom and pale fumes rose from the water. The three girls slipped in it, inhaling the flower fragrance.
"It was your grandfather who invented it, you know?" said Susan, leaning on the rim with her eyes closed. "The Sleekeazy's Potion. He lied, by the way. The package says that two drops tame all type of hair. More like two hundreds."
"Really? I didn't know that. But then again, I don't know a lot of things about my family."
"I could lend you my genealogy book, if you want," she proposed.
"How far does it cover?"
"All the way down to you. Genealogy books for Pure-bloods are charmed with a modified version the Protean Charm," explained Hannah. "Only the original book can be changed by the author, but all the others reflect what is written."
"And when the author died?" asked Dahlia, impressed by the magic.
"It's linked to the family magic. His or her heir will take on from there. And if he or she has no interest in genealogy, well, the author can transfer the spell by testament."
"It's the same principle with wards. Currently, Hogwarts' wards are attached to Professor Dumbledore. When he'll die, it will transfer to Professor McGonagall."
"Wow! That's impressive!"
"Pure-bloods might be many things, but they don't do the work by half," shrugged Hannah. "Currently, the Abbott Manor is locked to my mum and I. Me because I'm underage and my mum because she married into the family. Do you know that legally, the Abbott family should be taken out from the Sacred Twenty-Eight?"
"Really? Why?"
"My grandfather was a Muggle and my mum and I are Half-bloods. To blood purists, it's the worst sacrilege to 'taint' wizarding blood with Muggle blood."
"The blood purists," muttered Susan. "They are the reason pure-blood culture is associated with Dark Arts these days."
"It's a pity." Dahlia sighed and her shoulders went under the water for a moment. "I'll take your book, if you don't mind."
"Not at all."
They didn't talk for quite some time, enjoying the warm bath. The magical bath bomb had made the water fizzle like champagne and it was very pleasant to the touch. In bonus, it was washing your body automatically, so no need to scrub your skin until it was red.
"What did you buy for Maisie and Neil?" Susan did a visible effort to revive the conversation.
"I didn't go too far," grimaced Hannah. "A box of Chocolate Frogs and Licorice Wands. I think they received the same thing on Christmas. You?"
"Is it too insulting if I bought them dragon hide gloves?" asked Dahlia. "I noticed that their pair were almost finished."
"No, they certainly won't spit on it. I mean, they know that almost everything they own is second-hand, so why say no the new clothes? I bought them winter cloaks with silver pins."
"I don't know. I was expecting a speech on rejecting charity and the pride of buying things with your well-earned money."
"They don't earn any money," pointed out Hannah. "And the twins are far too materialistic to refuse gifts. With an attitude like that, they could have gone to Slytherin."
"And be killed after a week of school. Do you seriously think that Malfoy would let two Muggle-borns roam free in the Slytherin Common Room?"
"Malfoy might be a prick, but he's not a killer," she frowned. "He wouldn't kill someone inside the school, anyway."
"Maybe not Malfoy, but what about the upper years?" persisted Dahlia. "They were children during the First Wizarding War. Who knows what they think about Muggle-borns?"
"I see your point," admitted Susan. "But there hasn't been a death at Hogwarts since the forties. Surely Professor Dumbledore took the necessary measures to insure that the Muggle-borns in Slytherin are safe."
"In the forties? What happened?"
"I don't really know. It's rumours of rumours, so it's not exactly reliable."
"The only thing sure is that a girl died in the bathroom on the second floor. She haunts it since that day."
"Moaning Myrtle!" exclaimed Dahlia. "I've heard of it. She's the one who provokes the floodings in the corridor above the Great Hall."
"Yes, that one. Anyway, it's old History now."
At this precise moment, Megan Jones barged in and threw in bag at the bottom of the sinks. Dahlia heard the ink bottles shatter inside but none of it stained the fabric. She froze when she saw the three of them looking at her from the pool.
"Ah, you're here," she scowled. "You should get out soon, the curfew is in twenty minutes. Leanne's coming and she's pissed."
"What happened?" asked Dahlia as she came out of the bath. Susan and Hannah did the same and the water began to disappear quickly, leaving only a faint scent of lavender in the air.
"She got into a shouting match with the Quidditch team," said Megan as she took out the pins holding her hair in a pretty updo. "Again. It's tiring at the end."
"It's been a whole month. More than a month," she shook her head in exasperation. "Can't they pass to something else?"
"Katie Bell lives for Quidditch. We'll hear of it until our defeat against Slytherin, where we'll be pitied once again."
"You're awfully pessimist," noted Susan. She had dried herself with a charm and was now busy putting on her pyjamas. "Don't you have faith in our team?"
"Not really, no," shrugged Megan. "We were defeated by Ravenclaw and Slytherin beat Ravenclaw. Simple logic."
"We'll be totally crushed," huffed Dahlia. "Except if Cedric catches the Snitch before Higgs."
"Higgs is older and more skilled," claimed Hannah. "We'll lose, there's no doubt on that."
"Am I the only one who still has hope?" asked Susan with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes!" the three other girls replied in the same time.
In the distance, all the way down to the Common Room, they heard the familiar voice of Gabriel Truman calling for the first and second-years to go to bed. With a sigh, Dahlia brushed her teeth hastily after drying her body with the same charm Susan had used. In the dormitory, Leanne was at her bed, puffing her pillows rather forcefully. Before slipping into her bedsheets, Susan put another log in the chimney so that it would last for a few more hours.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
"'Night."
Dahlia laid on her bed, trying to concentrate on her breathing. With all the stress the exams brought, her meditation hadn't been easy lately. Most of the time, she would fall asleep immediately after going to bed because she was extremely tired. This time was no exception and she didn't even see her dear sunset.
"Come on, wake up!"
Dahlia was awakened by an excited Hannah. During the night, the fire had run out and all that was left was darken pieces of wood. The room was cold and dark, the only lights being the small eternal fire candle on each night stand. As the dormitories were deeper than the Common Room, they didn't have any windows in their small chambers. At the end of April, the snow might have completely melt a long time ago, but that didn't stop the cold winds battling the castle.
Dahlia rubbed her eyes tiredly as she got up. She picked her clothes from her drawer and zombie-walked to the showers. She couldn't properly begin her day without showering first, it was essential for washing away the last traces of sleep. In the bathroom, steam was already rising from two booths. Dahlia took the third and Hannah the fourth.
For Maisie and Neil's birthday, she wore a black shirt with a blue cardigan and jeans tucked into boots. She had cut her hair during the Christmas holidays, true, but now they were reaching her armpits again. She braided them, leaving only her bangs to hide her scar.
Once they were all ready, the three girls went to the Common Room, where the boys were waiting them. They had agreed yesterday that they would rise at eight o'clock to avoid the rush of students that normally come out at nine on the weekends.
"Mornin'," yawned Ernie. "How do you do?"
"Tired," chuckled Dahlia. "But who isn't?"
"Me!" Leah bounced excitedly. "I can't wait to see their faces. Do we give presents this morning or do we wait until supper tonight?"
"This morning, I think," answered Simon. "We did that for everyone else."
"This morning, then," approved Aaron. "Hey, I just thought of it, they'll be the last anniversary we'll celebrate at Hogwarts, no? You two are in July," he said to Neville and Dahlia.
"Nah, Ernie's is June 3rd," replied the pudgy boy.
"Ah!" exclaimed Cedric. "Here's the birthday boy! Where's your sister?"
"Still with Eileen." The redhead shuffled on his feet, a little bit uncomfortable without is twin. It was true that they were never separate, except for going to the bathroom. Since the beginning of their years at Hogwarts, Maisie had slept with her brother in the boys' dormitory. The other boys in their year hadn't complained much, as the twins were as quiet as a mouse and you could easily forget them. The teachers didn't know, of course, as is was not in their habits to pry into the students' private life. "She said something about a new dress."
"Girls' fashion," Simon nodded wisely. "It's better to leave them alone."
"Yeah, listen to the expert," snickered Justin.
"Hey, I never pretended to be an expert," he spluttered. "I just have two cousins, nineteen and sixteen years-old, and they're like, really frivolous. 'I bring a new boyfriend at every family gathering' frivolous."
All around him, the Hufflepuffs had bland look on their face. The boys understood nothing of feminine fashion, Dahlia, Susan and Hannah were not quite at that stage and Leah…
"Dresses don't fit me," she shrugged. "They make me look too tall and too thin. I prefer looser clothes."
It was true that she was really tall for her age. At fourteen years-old, she was already towering at five feet ten inches over Aaron's small and stocky build and Simon's average height. Only Cedric could claim being taller than her, all thanks to his Quidditch player diet. In Dahlia's year, they were all under five feet. The twins were in the middle of the six of them and Eileen equalled Simon.
"Oh, Maisie, you're beautiful!" Neil strode across the room to engulf his twin into a bone-crushing hug.
It was true that the green and white dress Eileen had made her wear was completely different from her usual heavy sweaters and baggy pants. It really brought out the green of her eyes.
"Thanks, I… Happy birthday!"
"Happy birthday to us!"
"And our birthdays are in three months," Dahlia murmured to Neville. "I can't wait."
"Me neither," he replied in the same tone.
"Well," the Irish girl clapped her hands, "Breakfast, then presents! Come on!"
They all followed her to the Great Hall, where only a few lonely souls could be seen. The night before, Simon and Aaron had sneaked into the kitchens and had asked the house elves to prepare a big breakfast for the thirteen of them. At their arrival, a mountain of eggs, toasts, bacon, sausages and many other foods was waiting for them. They soon discarded the jugs of pumpkin juice and requested milk and tea to the house elves. They were happy to comply and soon, their chatter filled the almost empty hall. Only Professor Vector, the Arithmancy teacher, was up and she raised her glass when they sang Happy birthday to the twins.
The presents they received variated between sweets and items of clothing, with the exception of Aaron. When came his turn to hand them his gift, he had a serious look on his face. Neil took off the wrapping paper with a curious look on his face and found himself with a square box in his hand. On top of it was a note written in an elegant calligraphy unknown to Dahlia, but clearly familiar to the twins:
Just in case
Happy Birthday to you
It was signed with curlicues, making the names impossible to read, but Aaron enlightened them soon enough.
"Healing potions from Mum and Dad. They know how difficult it can be."
"I see," the Scottish girl nodded gravely. "Thank you. And thank your parents from us."
"I will do it," he promised.
An uneasy silence lingered for a moment before Simon pushed his gift on the table.
"I'm afraid it's nothing original," he tried to diffuse the tension, "but happy birthday to you."
The large box wrapped in black and white paper contain the whole kit for a Montrose Magpie fan, the most successful Quidditch team based in Scotland. Rumours have it that Professor McGonagall was rooting for them, even more than for the Gryffindor team. They had all of it, from the small escutcheon to pin on your robes to the large blanket fitted for a queen bed.
"Thanks Simon," smiled Neil. "We appreciate it so much."
It did the trick. When Cedric offered to the twins their last gift, an ivory set of Wizard's Chess, everyone had forgotten about the potions. At the end of their breakfast, they called a house elf to put the presents in the twins' trunks, safe from their dorm mates, and went outside the castle. The sky was a clear, forget-me-not blue and there was a feeling in the air of summer coming.
They sat by the Black Lake, it's ripples tickling their feet from time to time. A tentacle of the Giant Squid pierced the surface of the water in the distance, waving friendly at them before hitting a poor bird in the sky. It was great to get out of the castle, to spend time together not talking about revisions and exams. They talked about their childhood, their dreams, their plans for the future. Eileen started insulting Fudge and it launched a debate on the most likely to be the next minister. His term of office was officially ten years, with the possibility of re-election, unless he was removed before for various reasons. Most of the Pure-bloods were supporting Amelia Bones, but Susan maintained that her aunt was not interested by the post. The others place their bet on Rufus Scrimgeour, the Head of the Auror Office, Barty Crouch Snr, the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, or plainly Lucius Malfoy, with his gold, his House and half of the Pure-bloods to back him. No one was holding much hope in Albus Dumbledore after he had refused the position three times.
At first, it was very discreet. A thin streak of black smoke in the blue sky, the distant bark of a dog, the faint smell of burning. It was when the screaming started that it really attracted their attention. The thirteen Hufflepuffs dashed through the fields, past the greenhouses and the Whomping Willow, to find the source of the noises. They stopped, panting, when they reached the thick crowd that had amassed and jostled to find themselves at the forefront. The sight made some of them want to puke. Hagrid's hut was burning – with Hagrid in it. His dog, Fang, was way louder here than at the edge of the Lake. Thick clouds of black smoke were rising not only from the chimney, but also from the windows and the thin space under the door.
"Did someone alerted the teachers?" screamed Cedric in his best 'I am the oldest here' voice. "The prefects, the adults?"
"Gemma Farley went to fetch Professor Snape and Percy Weasley said he'd bring back Professor McGonagall," answered a petrified second-year whom Dahlia did not know the name.
"Why is Hagrid not coming out?" asked Hannah, terrified. They could still hear the man shouting, so he was not dead, but nobody was discerning his words.
The crowd stepped back like at once when a particularly bright flame came out the window. No one knew the Water-Making Spell yet, as it was taught in sixth-year, and nobody above O.W.L. level had dared to take a day off from studying.
"Where are the teachers?" whimpered a Ravenclaw. "Where is the order?"
"Stand back, it's not safe here," Simon tried to make some first-years back away from the furnace. "Aaron, help me!"
Little Lavender Brown was frozen on the spot and tears were pouring freely on her face. Her friend Parvati Patil was gripping her hand so tightly that it must have hurt. The third-years had started to make the children move away from the burning hut. Some older students arrived on the scene, only to copy the gesture of the youngers. They were tripping and stumbling, their eyes fixed on the growing flames. The door yielded in a loud crack and Fang ran out of the house, his already black pelt stained by soot. By now, they could hear Hagrid shouting.
"No, Nobert! No don't… Norbert, listen to Mummy!"
"Mummy?" mouthed Neville to Dahlia. "What in Merlin's name?"
"Hagrid, get out of there!"
"Hagrid, you'll die if you don't come out!"
The crowd started chanting Hagrid's name, pleading for him to stop this nonsense and come out of the hut. The roof was the next to collapse. It was made of thin planks of wood and the fire engulfed them easily. Through the cloud of smoke, they could see a silhouette rising. It screeched loudly and everyone threw themselves on the ground.
"DRAGON!"
Dahlia was forced on her knees by Cedric. He was holding Hannah down with his other hand and she was struggling to get a look at the winged creature. The dragon's body was the size of a medium dog, but its gigantic wings spread to at least ten feet. It was hugely disproportionate compared to its slender neck and triangular head. Its tail was long and strong, beating furiously from left to right in an attempt to balance itself. It was the dragon's first time in the air, even Dahlia knew that. It was flapping its wings like a bird who leaves the nest for the first time, unevenly and disorganized. It made large movements to gain height, instead of planning peacefully with the upward wind created by the fire.
The dragon spat angrily at them and a sprout of flames touched the outer rim of their circle. Leah, who had been protecting Anthony Goldstein and Terry Boot, fell on the ground while holding her burned arm. The two Ravenclaws' clothes caught fire too and they started screaming. The dragon dove at them, but it forgot an important detail: its tail was too long and it hit the stone wall. Unbalanced, it fell from the sky and crashed on the ground, hissing like an angry cat. The creature breathed a long orange flame, this time touching Fred and George.
"Norbert!"
Hagrid emerged from his house and tried to tackle the beast. Bad idea. It sensed the movement behind him and lashed out its tail, opening a large gash in Hagrid's belly. The man fell on his knees and immediately put his hands on his wound, trying to stop the blood from spilling on the ground.
At this moment, they broke down formation and everyone started running towards the castle. The dragon took flight again, little disturbed by its previous fall. Dahlia was rushing after Justin, trying to kept an eye on the lizard and the treacherous ground at the same time. She could hear Susan wheezing behind her, her lungs damaged by the smoke. Leah had not moved from her spot, her arm held close to her body and Simon crouching beside her. Aaron had burned his hands stifling the flames destroying Terry Boot's shirt. He had lost his glasses in the confusion and looked a little lost without them.
"Dean, GET DOWN!"
The Gryffindor threw himself on the ground without hesitation and scrapped his hands and knees on the ground. Not important, considering that he would have been bitten by the dragon, had he not listen to Seamus Finnigan's order. It screeched in fury when it missed its prey, only to dive on a tiny Slytherin. The girl, Tracey Davis, was pushed by her friend Daphne Greengrass out of its trajectory, but it managed to scratch both of them with his talons before rising again. They flattened on the ground, which was a good strategy because the beast ignored them to report its attention on moving targets. Its third attempt was successful. Its fangs bit down a second-year Hufflepuff's shoulder and its talons clamped his back. He screamed and fell on his knees, trying to pry the dragon from his body. His friend tried to help him, only to be batted away by the gigantic wings. She clutched at her face, blood streaming down her chin. On a fortunate move with a perfect timing, the girl stepped blindly on its wing, tearing the soft membrane. It shrieked furiously and let go of its prey, intending to strike her. She avoided the flame by an inch, only to be struck by the undamaged wing.
"NO! DON'T HURT HIM, HE'S JUS' PLAYIN'!" howled Hagrid.
A fourth-year ignored him and kicked the monster in the belly, sending it flying away. He forced the girl down side by side with her friend and covered them with his body the best that he could. The dragon rose in the air and took a deep breath, obviously intending to roast them alive.
"STUPEFY!" Four red beams flew over their bent bodies and hit the winged lizard. It fell from the sky with a heart-breaking cry, though not from it but from Hagrid.
The crowd scrambled on their feet to make way for the four teachers running towards them. Professor Dumbledore was accompanied by Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape and Professor Flitwick. Dahlia had never seen them so angry. Without any consideration for the charred hut or the man owning it, they started to move between the wounded, conjuring water to appease the burns. At the sight of the four more powerful teachers running across the school ground, a large crowd had amassed around them, unsure of what to do. In a short time, a quarter of the school had assembled in the park, which was an impressive sight. Those who had run were coming back, accompanied by the prefects who took the responsibility of stopping the inferno. The high flames didn't stand a chance against the water whose pressure matched that of the fire hoses used in the Muggle world.
"Could someone please explain to me what on earth happened what here?" asked Dumbledore, his eyes animated with blazing fury. For the first time, many of them saw the leader of the Light who defeated the Dark Lord Grindelwald, not the old Headmaster a little eccentric.
"It was the dragon," wailed Tracey Davis, blood soaking her shoulder and a part of her arm. "It's all Hagrid's fault."
A chorus of angry shouts backed up her accusation. Even the troublemakers Fred and George, now soaked to the bones thanks to a well-placed Aguamenti, were glaring at Hagrid. Both of them had their legs touched by dragon fire and were standing only with the help of Oliver Wood and Percy Weasley.
"Please, Professor," pleaded Hagrid. His wound had been summarily healed by Professor Flitwick and he was back on his feet, looking down at all of them. "Norbert's just a baby, he didn't mean ter hurt anyone."
"To hurt anyone?" an outraged voice shouted from the crowd. "It's a dragon, not a pony!"
"What the hell does a dragon do here anyway?"
"That beast almost killed students!"
"Put it to death! It's nothing it doesn't deserves!"
"No! He's jus' a baby, he doesn't know his strength," said Hagrid desperately. "Professor Dumbledore, please."
The Headmaster looked at them gravely. They had instinctively regrouped by Houses, and now Dahlia was squeezed between Susan and Justin. Someone had dumped the dragon's body in the middle of the circle, still unconscious but breathing regularly. Hagrid was glancing at it lovingly, like it did not just hurt children and burned down his house. But then again, he had always had a peculiar love for monsters.
"Hagrid, why did you try to raise a dragon alone?" asked Professor Dumbledore severely.
"I could not dump him, I could not, he's too little, he'd have died," sobbed the gameskeeper. "Norbert needed his mummy."
"Mummy?"
The appellation drew more and more angry whispers in the crowd. Everyone was looking at Hagrid with hatred, or disapproval in the case of the teachers. Even the Headmaster didn't expressed sympathy at his tears and pleads.
"My father will hear about this," said Cedric, loudly enough for anyone to hear. No matter how much it sounded like Malfoy, the threat was way more serious because Amos Diggory was Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. "Do not think you or your employee will get away with a slap on the wrist, Professor."
"I assure you, Mr Diggory, that there is no need to alert your father," he claimed. In the blink of an eye, Professor Dumbledore turned from disapproving to defensive. "The Ministry doesn't need to meddle with the business of Hogwarts."
"This is no simple school fight. This," he pointed to the unconscious creature, "is illegal dragon breeding. It's been forbidden for nearly three hundred years."
"That's not true," insisted Hagrid. "I won the egg durin' a game o' cards."
"Then why didn't you reported it to the Ministry?" persisted Cedric. "You broke the law by hiding the egg and making it hatch illegally. Dragons are classified XXXXX Beasts by the Ministry, you can't tame them."
"NORBERT IS NOT A BEAST!" he yelled suddenly, making several people jump in fright.
Unfortunately, it was the signal that the mob awaited. Several students rushed to the middle of the circle, trying to get a grip on the dragon. Dahlia was pushed from both sides and ended on the ground for the second time of the day. Hagrid launched forward in an attempt to protect the unconscious creature.
"Incarcerous!"
Ropes shot out of Professor McGonagall's wand when she raised it in a defensive stance. The tall man was stopped instantaneously, the bindings hampering his knees. Dahlia could see the teachers hesitate from her place. They could not turn their wand on their students, not when so many were in the way. That second of hesitation gave the mob the time to reach the dragon. With a sickening crack, its body was crushed under the weight of several angry teenagers, who trampled it until it was a bloody mess. Hagrid howled in pain, the sound ten times more intense than the previous one.
"NOOOOOO!"
It was the sound of a mother who had lost her child, not a man whose dangerous pet was killed. Professor Dumbledore's wand shot up to the sky and several firecrackers exploded in the air, bringing back the calm. The students dispersed, forming once again a circle around Norbert's corpse. During a time, the only sound you could hear was the sobs of Hagrid, still bounded by the magical ropes.
"Everyone back to their dormitory," ordered Professor Dumbledore. "This matter doesn't concern students anymore. For the wounded, go see Madam Pomfrey in the Hospital Wing."
"Albus, this is…" began Professor McGonagall.
"Not now," he said firmly. "Please release Hagrid."
The last thing Dahlia saw before turning away was Hagrid rushing to Norbert's side and cradling its dead body. Her arm around Susan's shoulders, they made their way back to the castle.
The third-years decided to stay in the Hospital Wing with Leah and Aaron, whose burns were severe enough to keep them in bed for the rest of the day. Eileen and the twins wanted to go to the kitchens in an attempt to save the remains of their birthday, but Neville and Hannah had not the heart of eating anything after what they saw.
On the way down, they crossed path with Malfoy and his minions, wands already out and looking for trouble.
"Well, if it isn't Potty with her band of spineless worms," he sneered. It was like a well-rehearsed show. Malfoy would launch an insult, Crabbe and Goyle would crack their knuckles and Dahlia would think of a witty remark to say, perhaps her own little gibe. "You're short of a few members. It's a pity you weren't killed by the fire created by that great oaf, it would have rid us of your existence. Hanging out with Mudbloods and blood traitors, it's a wonder you're still alive."
The former insult was directed towards the twins, who retreated behind Eileen. It was a good strategy, that goes without saying. Eileen was like Malfoy, in certain ways: Pure-blood, beautiful, last Heir of an Ancient and Noble House with a lot of money and influential parents. A war between their two Houses would certainly end in a draw. The Malfoys had the Ministry behind them, but the Byrnes had all Ireland, Northern and Republic confounded, and Fudge could not alienate an entire country.
"Aren't you tired of insulting others?" asked Dahlia. Herself was drained after that day and she really didn't want to enter into a fight with Malfoy. "One would think that you'd have something else to do with your life."
"What happened?" he taunted. "You couldn't handle a bit of blood? I bet that dragon was purer than your Mudblood mother."
Nine wands were drawn at that insult. Malfoy looked uncertain at his evident disadvantage. Not only he was outnumbered three to one, but they were also in the Basement, which means that another Hufflepuff could turn the corner and join the fight at any moment. His confidence faltered like snow under the sun.
"I think you should leave," she said coldly. "Daddy's money will not always save you."
"This isn't over, Potter!" he spat. In dramatic move certainly copied from Professor Snape, he turned around and tried to leave with dignity. Crabbe and Goyle followed without a sound, their large bulk shadowing Malfoy. "My father will hear about it!"
"Why does it always end like that?" sighed Dahlia.
In moment like this, she always appears as the natural leader of the group, even if she was the youngest of the thirteen of them. They let her handle the conversation and settle for supporting her entirely. That was Hufflepuff loyalty.
"I'm sorry I ruined your birthday," she said as she sheathed her wand. Well, sheathed. More like putting it in her back pocket.
"It was ruined a long time ago, when that dragon burned Aaron and Leah." Neil shrugged, even if his voice was a little sad. "Don't be sorry."
They arrived at the intersection, when the second-years parted to go to the kitchens. The rest of them walked in silence to the Common Room. As soon as they set a foot into it, they had the irrepressible envy of fleeing the room. Everything reminded them of the catastrophe that happened just minutes before. The stifling heat of the chimney, the soft sent of burning wood, the loud cacophony of the students. They turned around and practically ran out of the school, back to the spot by the lake they claimed this morning.
"It's better here," said Hannah softly. In days like that, they only wanted to close their eyes and feel at peace. For some reasons, witches and wizards always seem to grow up faster than Muggles. "The smell doesn't reach us."
"Yet," added Ernie grimly. "But I can still recall it."
"Who doesn't? asked Justin rhetorically. "Aaron's hands and Leah's arm… do you think they'll be back to normal?"
"It should be. Dragon fire is not that different from normal fire. Madam Pomfrey will heal them, like she always does."
"I am more worried about that Hufflepuff," admitted Dahlia. "I read somewhere that dragon bites are poisonous."
"It should be alright," said Neville uncertainly. "I mean, we know what breed it was."
"What breed was it?"
"A Norwegian Ridgeback," answered Hannah. "One week-old. Dragons grow very fast, especially that specie."
"Of course it's that one." Ernie closed his eyes. "What was Hagrid thinking? Raising a Norwegian Ridgeback alone, in a wooden hut, from an egg illegally obtained?"
"He's lucky it decided to come out now," scowled Susan. "Imagine what damage it could have done if it had been bigger. Someone would have died."
"Someone would have died today, had we had not been extremely lucky."
"Lucky? There were twenty students injured by a one week-old dragon!"
"It could have been worse," pointed out Justin. "We were what? A hundred? Assembled in front of Hagrid's hut like a herd of sheep ready to be eaten."
"He will face an inquiry from the Ministry," assured Susan. "Even if there hadn't been any casualty, he hatched a dragon egg knowing fully the law and what it entails."
"What does it entails?"
"Usually, it's a few hundred Galleons, depending on what kind of damage the dragon did or did not. But with the Greengrass Heiress injured, it can lead to Azkaban."
"Surely not!" exclaimed Dahlia. "It was just a scratch!"
"I think you exaggerated a little." Neville looked unsure. "The Greengrass are not the type of making someone suffer for a trifle. We're talking about a Dark Grey House, not the Malfoys."
"A Most Ancient and Most Noble House, with no male Heir or cadet branch. In the Sacred Twenty-Eight, I remind you."
"Greengrass has a younger sister," said Ernie. "In the eyes of hard-core Pure-bloods, it means she's dispensable."
"Dispensable? No child in dispensable for parents," refuted Justin.
"You'd be surprised to see how retarded some Pure-bloods are," muttered Neville. "Especially with daughters. Wombs on legs, that's how they see them."
"Enough talking about that, please. No need to darken the day further more."
"You're right. We're way too macabre."
They stayed outside for as long as they could, even when the sun set and an icy wind came from the lake. This time, the heat and the fire of the castle were very welcome. No mention of the incident was made during supper, but Professor Sprout gathered all the Hufflepuffs in the Common Room.
"You all know what happened today," she began, looking at each of them in the eyes. "An illegal dragon egg was brought into Hogwarts and it hatched under the care of Rubeus Hagrid. The Norwegian Ridgeback assaulted and injured several students on the school ground. It was killed before any teachers could react. By students. I want to know who partook in this horrible act."
There was a moment of silence, and then:
"I did it." A girl stepped out of the crowd. "I ran to that beast and I crushed its tail under my foot. And I wasn't the only one."
"Miss Tyler," sighed Professor Sprout.
"It hurt my baby brother. It hurt Ben. He's twelve years-old and he's been bitten and clawed by a dragon." She lifted her chin defiantly. "It deserved to be killed. I won't apologise for my actions."
A low rumble crossed the room. The Hufflepuffs backed their own. Miss Tyler was surrounded by her friends and those who thought she had done the right thing. After all, what was worth a dragon's life compared to a brother?
"This is a matter to be discussed. Twenty points from Hufflepuff, Miss Tyler, and you'll be serving a detention with me. The others, off to bed!"
Hello everyone!
I wanted to thank you all for your favourite, follow and reviews.
To PikaMew1288: Thank you for pointing me out my mistake, I changed it.
To Qarz: You can forget the parents, it just helps me to organize my thoughts to give them jobs. As for the unnecessary lessons, I take note of your comment.
To Arkansas Sweetheart: Charlie can be considered once she's older, but Cedric will be nothing more than a crush.
Killing Norbert may seem a little extreme, but I thought it was the natural course of action. After all, they're angry teenagers, not adults who can keep calm. By the way, I do not approve.
The chapters will start to go faster. Next time will be the Forbidden Forest, then the exams, the trials, the confrontation with Quirrell and Voldemort and then the epilogue.
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