A/N: I'm going to make this clear. I don't own the Harry Potter series or it's characters. That right goes to JK Rowling

Hagrid Hatches a Dragon

Quirrell was braver than Ron and Neville thought. In the weeks that followed he did seem to be getting paler and thinner, but it didn't look as though he'd cracked yet.

Harry would pass the third floor corridor every now and then to see if there were any signs of the dog being silent, but there were still the sound of three dogs fighting in a small space. Snape was sweeping about in his unusual bad temper, which surely meant that the Stone was still safe.

Anytime he passes Quirrell, Harry gave the professor an encouraging smile, and when someone made fun of Quirrell, Ron would tell them off. Even Neville stood up to Quirrell in Defense Against the Dark Arts Class whenever he started stuttering.

Hermione, however, had more on her mind than the Sorcerer's Stone. She had started drawing up study schedules and color coding all her notes. Not only that, but she been nagging on Neville Ron and Harry to do the same.

"Hermione, the exams are ages away," Ron argued.

"Ten weeks," Hermione snapped. "That's not ages."

"But why are you studying?" Ron asked. "You already know it all."

"Why am I studying? Are you crazy? You realized we need to pass these exams to get into the second year? They're very important, I should have started studying a month ago, I don't know what got into me…"

Harry and Neville stayed out of the argument, mostly because they didn't want Hermione to snap at them. When it comes to test and exams, a whole new side of Hermione is shown where she's obviously afraid of failing the test.

Unfortunately, the teachers seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Hermione. They piled so much homework on them that the Easter holidays weren't nearly as much fun as Christmas. Even James—who normally goes easy on the assignments—had started slamming them with homework.

Most of the days, Harry Ron Neville and Hermione either stayed at James corridor to study, or at the library.

One day the four of them spend a nice clear day in the library trying to get over the extra work.

"I'll never remember this." Ron was the first to break as he threw his quill down. Then he noticed Hagrid shuffling out of view—trying not to be noticed. "Hagrid! What are you doing in the library?"

Hagrid shuffled back into view, hiding something behind his back. He looked very out of place in his moleskin overcoat.

"Just looking," he said, in a shifty voice that got their interest at once. "And what are you lot up to?" He looked suddenly suspicious. "You're not looking for Nicolas Flamel, are you?"

Ron was about to speak up but Harry interrupt him.

"Don't worry, we found out about Flamel long time ago," Harry said. "It turns out for a name you and dad were trying to keep a secret from us could be found on any of Dumbledore's Famous Wizard Cards."

"Oh, well, yeah, we didn't think anyone would search for his name on a wizard card," Hagrid said. "So is that all you found?"

"Well, no, we also found what the school is guarding, but we understand why it's a hush-hush," Harry said. "After all, no proper school like Hogwarts wants their students messing with something so powerful."

"Well, that's good." Hagrid looked around nervously. "If that's all, I'll be on my way."

Hagrid shuffled off.

"Why did you hide everything we know?" Ron asked.

"Because until we know Quirrell cracks, it might be best to keep what we know quiet," Harry said. "Right now, our best hope is that we wait until the end of the school year. Hopefully by then maybe the strain of Snape interrogating him would lead Quirrell to resign from the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts before it literally becomes an end to him."

"So we let the Curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position take it's course without death," Neville said.

"Exactly," Harry said.

"That's great and all, but I wonder what was that thing Hagrid was hiding," Hermione said.

"I'll go find out," said Ron, "I need a break anyways."

Ron left and was barely gone a minute before coming back with a pile of books in his arms and slammed them down on the table.

"Dragons!" he whispered. "Hagrid was looking up stuff about dragons! Look at these: Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland; From Egg to Inferno, A Dragon Keeper's Guide. It's as if Hagrid plans to raise one."

That's when it clicked in Harry's brain. Harry closed his book and started packing up.

"I'm going to go see Hagrid," Harry said as he headed off.

At first, Neville Ron and Hermione was in shock but then they quickly packed up and follow Harry.

"Harry, what's going on?" Hermione asked.

"Hagrid always wanted a dragon," Harry said. "It's been a lifelong dream of his to raise one."

"But that's against our laws!" Ron said.

"I know that. Believe me I know," Harry said. "But Hagrid always had this crazy idea that if he get his hands on an egg, he can hatch and raise it despite the risk."

"So if Hagrid has got himself an egg—" Hermione said.

"Then he would keep it in the last place anyone expects anyone to keep a dragon," Harry said. "And right now, that's Hagrid's Hut."

…

When they knocked on the door of the gamekeeper's hut, they were surprised to see that all the curtains were closed.

"Who is it?" Hagrid called from inside.

"Hagrid, it's us," Harry yelled. "Can we come in?"

There was shuffling noise before the door opened as Hagrid let them in before quickly shutting the door behind them.

Despite the nice warm weather outside, it was stifling hot inside. There was a blazing fire in the grate. Hagrid made them tea and offered them stoat sandwiches, which they refused.

"So you come here for a specific reason?" Hagrid asked.

"Library was getting too stuffy, so we decided to go outside for a bit," Harry lied. "But when we saw that your curtains were closed we thought we check to see why?"

"Oh, nothing to worry about," Hagrid said. "I'm just-trying to keep the cool air in."

"Cool air—Hagrid, it's boiling hot in here," Ron responded.

"Yeah, open a window or something," Neville complained.

"Can't, sorry," said Hagrid glancing at the fire. Neville Ron Hermione and Harry looked over and sure enough saw a huge black egg underneath the kettle in the very heart of the fire.

Busted.

"Hagrid—" Harry said.

"It's nothing to worry about," Hagrid said.

"Nothing?" Ron asked. "That's a dragon's egg! How did you get it?"

"Won it," said Hagrid. "Last night. I was down in the village having a few drinks and got into a game of cards with a stranger. I think he was quite glad to be rid of it, to be honest."

"You're not planning to hatch it, yet?" Hermione asked.

"Of course. I've been doing some reading," said Hagrid, pulling a large book from under his pillow. "Got this out of the library—Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit—it's a bit out of date, of course, but it's all in here. Keep the egg in the fire, because their mothers breath on them."

"Yeah, I know. I saw them do that when Ron and I were in Romania during the holidays," Harry explained.

"Right… well according to the book, when it hatches, feed it on a bucket of brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour. And see here—how to recognized different eggs—what I got there is a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare."

He looked rather pleased of himself.

"Hagrid," Neville said. "You live in a wooden house. What would you do if it starts a fire?"

Unfortunately, Hagrid had stopped listening as he was humming merrily as he stoked the fire.

…

"We have to tell my dad," Harry said. "Maybe he can talk some sense into Hagrid."

"Or maybe your uncle," Ron said. "He does seem to be the expert in dangerous creatures."

"Even if I could contact Uncle Moony, he won't be able to do anything until next week," Harry said.

"Why?" Hermione asked.

"He has some monthly issues to deal with," Harry said. "Nothing to worry about though."

"But Hagrid does have something to worry about," Neville responded. "He's keeping a you-know-what in his wooden house."

"I think the best thing right now is to see if Hagrid will realize how crazy his plan is," Hermione said. "If it gets out of hand, we'll tell Professor Potter at least."

…

A few days passed and Hermione started making study schedules for Harry Ron and Neville, which drove them nuts.

Then, one breakfast time, Hedwig brought Harry another note from Hagrid. He had written only two words: It's hatching.

"Okay, I think it's time we tell my dad," Harry said.

"Maybe, but I want to see it hatching," Ron said. "I say we skip Herbology to see it hatch and then tell your dad."

"No way we're going to do that," Hermione argued.

"We've got lessons, we'll get into trouble, and that's nothing to what Hagrid's going to be in when someone finds out what he's doing—"

"Malfoy alert," Neville responded.

They look to see Malfoy only being a few feet away as he had stopped dead to listen. And judging from the look on his face, Harry guess he heard too much.

"We'll continue this argument after Herbology," Harry said.

"But—"

"Afterwards we'll go see Hagrid." Harry said. "Once we see the dragon hatch, we will decide the best way to inform my dad and get the dragon out of here before Hagrid gets in trouble."

No one could argue after that.

…

After class, Harry Ron Neville and Hermione raced to Hagrid's place. Hagrid greeted them at the door, looking flush and excited.

"It's nearly out." He ushered them inside.

The egg was lying on the table. There were deep cracks in it as something was moving and making funny clicking noise from inside.

They all drew their chairs up to the table and watched with bated breath.

All at once there was a scraping noise and the egg split open. The baby dragon flopped onto the table. It looked like a crumpled, black umbrella. Its spiny wings were huge compared to its skinny jet body, it had a long snout with wide nostrils, the stubs of hors and bulging, orange eyes.

When it sneezed, a couple of sparks flew out of its snout.

"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid murmured. He tried to stroke the dragon's head, but the dragon snapped at his fingers, showing its pointed fangs. "Bless him, look, he knows his mummy!"

Hagrid," said Hermione, "how fast do Norwegian Ridgeback grow, exactly?"

Hagrid was about to answer when the color suddenly drained from his face—he leapt to his feet and ran to the window.

"What's the matter?"

"Someone was looking through the gap in the curtains—it's a kid—he's running back up to the school.

Harry bolted to the door and looked out. Even at a distance, there was no mistaking him. It was Malfoy.

Harry looked at Hermione Ron and Neville and they came to a silent agreement—they need to tell Harry's dad.

…

"Hagrid has a WHAT?" James yelled.

"A Norwegian Ridgeback," Ron said.

James walked around his room running his hand through his dark hair. "Did Hagrid say anything about getting rid of the dragon?"

"No Professor Potter," Hermione said.

"He thinks he can raise him," Neville said.

"In a wooden house… what on earth is Hagrid thinking?" James responded.

"You're not going to report it, are you dad?" Harry asked.

"I might have too Harry," James said.

"Isn't there another way?" Harry asked. "Hagrid could lose his job!"

"You think I don't know that," James said.

"What if we convince Hagrid to get rid of the dragon before anyone notice?" Neville asked.

"Yeah, we can even ask Ron's brother Charlie about taking the dragon," Harry said.

"Even if we do that, Harry, there's no way we can sneak a dragon out of the castle without being noticed," James said.

"Please, dad!" Harry gave his father his best begging face.

James sighed. "Fine, but I'm only giving you to Charlie responds to convince Hagrid, otherwise I will have to inform someone about this."

"Thank you, Dad!"

"Don't thank me yet," James said, "There's still a matter of punishing you four for not going straight to a professor when you first heard about the egg."

"What?" Harry Ron and Neville responded.

"Ten points off each of you," James said. "And one nights detention once this is over."

"What?"

"Either you take the punishment, or Hagrid takes it," James said, "We'll take advantage of Malfoy finding out to make the school think you four spread the rumors of a dragon and the points taken off and detention is punishment for it."

None of them argued against it as it seem fair.

…

The next day, James planned work. Malfoy went running to Professor McGonagall about the dragon, and James informed her it was a rumor his son and his friends started. Only good side about it was that Malfoy was punished the next day for trying to sneak out to prove it which cost Slytherin House 50 points and Malfoy a night of detention.

However, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville were too busy trying to convince Hagrid to go with the plan to celebrate. A week passed and Hagrid was still sticking to the same story.

"I can't," said Hagrid. "The other dragons will bully him."

Hard to imagine that. In the week alone, the dragon Hagrid name Norbert grew three times in length and been keeping Hagrid from his job.

"Hagrid, dad is only giving us until Charlie responds back," Harry said. "If you don't agree, dad will go to Professor Dumbledore, and not only you'll loose Norbert, but your job."

After a long time of argument, Hagrid agreed.

Which ended up being a good thing because Charlie responded the following day. Which James send a note to Harry about it.

Harry,

Charlie agreed to take in the Norwegian Ridgeback, but he can't come himself. Instead he's seeing about having Tonks and a few others who are going to Romania to visit him about taking the dragon. Be prepared to get Norbert to the Astrology tower. The invisibility cloak should be able to hide two of you and the dragon.

Dad

P.S. The old statue of a raven next to a scenery painting looks nice. Be sure to take a good look on the way up with the dragon

"What does that mean?" Neville asked.

"He's giving us a clue to a hidden passage that goes straight to the tower," Harry said. "Or at least part of the way."

And by the next day, they made plans to take Norbert to the Astrology tower on Saturday.

When they went to tell Hagrid, they found Fang the boarhound sitting outside with a bandaged tail. Hagrid opened the window to talk to them.

"I won't let you in," he puffed. "Norbert's at a tricky stage—nothing I can't handle."

They told him about James' arrangement with Charlie. Hagrid's eyes filled with tears, although that might have been because Norbert had just bitten him on the leg.

"Aargh! It's all right, he got my boot—just playing—he's only a baby, after all." Hagrid said. "So Charlie got Tonks into helping him. I must admit, I'm worried about letting Tonks escort Norbert."

"That's why Tonks won't be doing it alone," Harry said.

"By the way, who is Tonks?" Hermione asked.

"She's second cousin of one of Harry's uncles," Ron said. "She's pretty cool, but sometimes she can be a klutz."

At that moment, Norbert banged his tail on the wall, making the windows rattle. They decided to head back before something else happened.

…

Saturday came and it was time to go. It was decided that Hermione and Harry get Norbert to the tower to meet Harry's dad as Neville and Ron would stay at the Gryffindor Common Room and cover for them.

Hagrid had Norbert packed and ready in a large crate.

"He's got lots of rats and some brandy for the journey," said Hagrid in a muffled voice. "And I've packed his teddy bear in case he gets lonely."

Harry kept quiet as he heard the sound of ripping noises inside the crate.

"Bye-bye, Norbert!" Hagrid sobbed, as Harry and Hermione covered the crate with the Invisibility Cloak and stepped underneath it themselves. "Mummy will never forget you!"

…

Good thing James recommended that secret passage because it cut their time of struggling the crate up the tower by half without the fear of getting caught. The tunnel got them to next to the spiraling staircase up the Astronomy tower, but it did save them from being sighted, even by chance.

Fortunately James was already a quarter up the stairs.

"I send Filch to check out the third floor Corridor," James said as Harry and Hermione removed the cloak. "The dragon in the crate?"

"Yes, dad." Harry said realizing his dad still don't know Norbert's name. "And his name is Norbert."

James nodded. "Then let's get Norbert up the tower."

With two more extra hands they manage to get the crate up the tower. And just in time as four broomsticks flying through the air.

Leading them was a girl in her late teens early twenties with midnight blue hair.

"Wotcher Harry," the girl greeted. "Looking more and more like your father, I see."

"Hey Tonks," Harry said.

"Thanks again for agreeing to this," James said.

"No problem. Fortunately, I made time to visit Charlie in Romania before this whole business started, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to make time away from my Auror training," Tonks responded.

The other three wizards jumped off their brooms and started strapping up the crate. Tonks on other hand turned her attention to Hermione.

"You must be Hermione Granger," Tonks said. "I heard a lot about you."

"You—you did?" Hermione asked.

"Of course. Just about every letter I got from Harry involves something you did," Tonks said. "Not to mention, my cousin Sirius often refers you as the fourth member of the second generation of Maurders."

Hermione turned slightly red with embarrassment.

"Hey, Tonks, we're ready!" said a wizard that came with her.

"Right! We better be off," Tonks said. "Keep your nose clean, Harry."

Soon the four of them were off on their brooms with the crate tied to their brooms with harnesses.

"All right, I think it's safer that I escort you two back to Gryffindor Tower from here," James said. "The last thing we need is for you two to cause more trouble than you already started. Also—"

James took the cloak of invisibility. "I'll keep this on me until we reach the Fat Lady Portrait. That way if someone see us, they think I caught you two wandering around the corridors at midnight."

Harry and Hermione nodded as they followed James down the stairs.

A/N: I know Tonks is clumsy, but I thought the dragon escort would be a good excuse to introduce Tonks as an actual character and not just someone Harry talks about or receive letters and gifts from.

As for informing James, I thought it make a good twist in this story.