"Seriously? The egg is hatching?" said Ron excitedly when Hermione whispered the two words on the scrap of parchment.
"That's what the note says." said Harry taking the note out of Hermione's hand and reading it for himself.
"Let's go! That's something no one should miss if they can." said Ron excitedly.
Harry had to admit, from what he had read, it wasn't all that often that someone could see a hatching of a dragon of any breed. Mother dragons were notorious for barbequing anyone that got too close to their eggs, and Harry promised himself that he would never come between a mother dragon and her egg. He could almost see himself being reduced to nothing but cinders on the ground where his trainer covered feet were.
But there was no mother dragon to flambe them alive, why shouldn't they see this, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. As much as he worried about Hagrid, he had to admit, he didn't want to miss this.
Ron and Hermione began to bicker back and forth, giving the pros and cons about skipping off the rest of classes to go and see a hatching, but they were getting a bit too loud and Draco was listening hard as he walked near them.
Harry had seen Draco skulking near them from time to time, trying to catch them plotting something and use it to get them in trouble.
Once he had heard the Ron talk about copying homework, and brought it to McGonagall's attention after a very grueling essay, the length had to be a minimum of four feet long. She paused the class and inspected all three of theirs' rolls of parchment, once she was done inspecting them, she took fifteen points away from Slytherin for wasting her time. He never let it go, and he was dead set on finding something to nail them with.
Once they were safely away from Draco's prying ears, Ron and Harry convinced Hermione that it was academically wise to see the hatching of a dragon, which sold her immediately. So they walked down to Hagrids once the morning break had come. Though thinking back, Harry wished they hadn't been so obvious in their excitement to leave the Herbology greenhouses, especially since they had the class with Slytherins.
Draco saw them rush out, and a smile began to play on his lips, they were heading down to the great oaf's hut, surely something down there would get them in enough trouble to do some damage in either points, or better yet, suspension.
Quite a few days later, Hagrid was trying to wrangle in his baby dragon...that was slightly getting bigger by the day. He didn't mind at all the speed at which Norbert was growing, it just showed how well he was being taken care of. But the one stage that worried him the most had just arrived that morning.
Norbert was attacking anything that reflected light in his house. If the Headmaster's teapot wasn't so expertly protected, it would have been smashed in a moment. Sadly, the same thing couldn't be said about his new copper kettle that now lay in pieces on the floor.
He was learning his nature to covet shiny objects, and break it into smaller pieces to line his own little nest with. Thankfully, no one came to visit him that would normally wear anything with jewels in them.
Then a knock came at the door, it had to be the kids, no one else visited him nowadays. If one of the teachers were to come and visit, or even Dumbledore...he'd be finished. There is no hiding a baby dragon that was still testing out it's fire, and the sound he made would alert anyone, if they hadn't noticed the flames that would come out from under the bed. He made to open the door but he noticed out of the window, Harry's glasses, his eyes, and Hermione's buttons, they were shiny...
He looked down at Norbert's claws...they were sharp, and so was his teeth...no...Hagrid could handle Norbert, but these kids had no idea what was going to happen...best keep them outside...just to be safe. Norbert wouldn't hurt a fly...but the talons and fangs...he didn't want to risk them...
He didn't like keeping them out of the house, they seemed to love coming to visit him and he loved having them, but until he got Norbert properly trained, it wasn't safe just yet. Soon, soon they would be able to come in again, just not right now.
Weeks later, Dumbledore sat in his office and read and reread a report from Hagrid in his untidy scrawl. Something in the Forbidden Forest had been thinning the Unicorn herd and Hagrid requested some advice on how to take care of it.
Dumbledore himself had gone for a stroll into the forest late at night, hoping to catch the creature in the act. Thankfully, the creature was not out and about, hunting for more unicorns, but the old man wished he could have brought out the end of the senseless killings. Hagrid had said that every time he found the bodies, they were still all there, there was only slashes at the poor creature's body. Hagrid would have to bury the poor thing before any creature could feast on it.
Not that any decent creature would be willing to dine on a unicorn's body, but one did not just simply hope that creatures knew better.
He would have to find out who was doing this, and end it. But with no clues as to the culprit, he had no way to stop it. The herd moved constantly through the forest, where they lived, before this, in peace, not one creature could catch them, until now.
All he could tell Hagrid was to wait till the next attack happened, and try and find any helpful clues as to the culprit.
He leaned back in his large chair and stared at the ceiling. So many things weighed on his mind this year. Fudge's constant owls that requested advice, honestly, helping out was one thing, but it seemed that Dumbledore was the real leader behind the Minister. If the man couldn't handle the job, he shouldn't have volunteered his name and his time, but the man had a good heart, if only he'd use it...it would make the best decisions for the people.
The stone deep within the school, ever since Halloween had been causing him the most headache as of late. He had taken it upon himself to check the stone every day before he would retire for the evening, just to make sure that it was alright. He would rest much easier once Nicholas thought out a better place to hide the stone and it was out of his school.
He looked back down at his desk and saw the mountain of first year assessments that he was to review, just to keep up with the academic studies and personal quirks of each of the students. He'd review them, and send a list of students that would need a little extra help to the appropriate teacher. Snape's list...well, it hardly ever got shorter after these reviews.
First years. Slytherin
He looked at Gregory Goyle's exam. He could barely make out any of the answers, the boy's handwriting was atrocious and his answers lazy and sluggish. There wasn't a class that he took part in that he didn't need extra help in. The only 'A' the boy received was in Potions. That grade was the only thing keeping his head above the waters.
Then he looked to the teacher's reports on the student.
Professor Pomona Sprout: I don't think anything I say reaches Goyle, he's mutilated everything that comes into his hands, though...I don't think it's quite intentional. I've offered some after classes help, but it just went right over his head and he walked off. I recommend that Severus have a word with him, not just for the class inattentiveness, but for the bullying that has been going on. I've heard talk that this boy is still intimidating, not just my Badgers, but towards other houses. I've taken points away from him and he's just finished a two-night detention with me.
Professor Filius Flitwick: Goyle tries the first ten minutes to learn a new spell, but after that, he stares off into space, His practical is mildly decent, for tests anyway, but his theoretical work could use quite a bit of polishing...and please have Severus tell him to stop bringing in food, there's crumbs all over the place where he sits. I don't mind the occasional snack, but just the other day he brought out a bag of chicken legs! Also, the bullying is continuing, just the other day I saw him rip the bag right off of Mr. Finch-Fletchely's back and take the candy bars out of it, I deducted points and he's currently in detention with me for the week.
Professor Minerva McGonagall: The boy hardly speaks a word, even when I direct the simplest question towards him. His answers to my essays are simple to say the least, half the length that I had asked for. I fear that perhaps he is mentally inadequate to be here, I suggest that his parent's be notified that perhaps a tutor should come to the school and help him. I should also bring to your attention that it seems that he has a dance card of detentions, I don't get to exact my detention requirements till next week.
Dumbledore shook his head, like father like son he supposed, his father was no better at school, he was amazed every year he could find his way to his own house. A brute and bully to boot, hopefully Severus says something that could show that Goyle was being dealt with.
Professor Severus Snape: Goyle has a particular nature that does not hold well with most people. He is misunderstood by several of the other teachers and is forced into detentions every night. He is not given the time to work on his homework and falls behind in his work. He keeps his words to himself, and is an adequate student.
Dumbledore stared at the parchment in his hand. He looked between the four rolls of parchment and read each one carefully. Snape was the only one that seemed to be either completely on Goyle's side and his only defender, or blind to the bully the youth really was. Then he noticed something in the corner of one of Goyle's test papers.
Dumbledore had read the answers and found them rushed, simple and mediocre at best, but when he pulled out the magnifying glass he kept in his desk and inspected the little blot in the corner he found himself pleasantly surprised.
Despite the brutish nature the boy had, he could draw. What looked like a little mess of scribbles, turned out to be a very intricate Celtic knot design, perhaps the boy just needed to vent out his frustrations and mental blocks with a large stack of paper and pens and allow himself to freely express himself.
However, bullying will not be tolerated, he'll have to pay his dues to the teachers and then perhaps Severus could help him, that would also have to go on the note to Severus. He'd have to keep notes of things to talk about at the next staff meeting. This talent of Goyle's shouldn't be hidden away.
He took out Vincent Crabbe's exams and saw the exam same thing, his answers were a little better, but the grades were the same, as well as the atrocious handwriting. He'd have to talk to the teachers about helping the students with their penmanship.
Professor Pomona Sprout: A little slow on the uptake for the most part, but he does follow directions, if not to the letter. He'll do what I tell him, but he won't deviate from it, he won't learn anything from it either. Aside from Granger and Longbottom he was one of the first to prune his dittany correctly, but when I asked what sort of odor was that escaped from the leaves when it cut, he couldn't tell me. He wasn't even aware that there was a smell I don't think. Just like Goyle, he's continuing his bullying tactics, not even the twins have gotten the amount of detentions that I've given those two.
Professor Filius Flitwick: Unfortunately, I think this boy is going the same way as his father, he may not be skilled in charms, but I've seen him do some nasty hexes to a few of his fellow first years. He may have to be watched and steered in the right way before he something awful happens. He brings food into the class, snacks are certainly welcomed, I have a stash of candy in my desk, but..pot pies are something entirely different. There is hardly a night that I don't have both him and Goyle in detention.
Professor Minerva McGonagall: He gives up too soon and just whispers to Malfoy for the duration of the class, I've caught him flinging things about the classroom several times, if Severus cannot reign in those two, then perhaps you should step in. His classwork is lacking, if he would put more effort into his work both with his wand and on parchment, he would get a A or even an E as opposed to the P's and T's he's been acquiring.
Dumbledore didn't want to think what Snape thought, after what he saw with Goyle, he knew nothing was going to be different.
Professor Severus Snape: Crabbe is another quiet student, he wants to please his father but with all the unjust detentions he had been acquiring, it only makes it harder on him. I'm getting fed up with the other teachers persecuting the two boys that seem to just try their best. I know of four other students that should be kept in detention as opposed to my snakes.
Dumbledore rubbed his temple and sighed. Why could they not just completely agree on something?
Draco Malfoy, read Dumbledore with a sigh, he dreaded what might be in this folder.
Draco's scholastic grades were quite admirable, it was easy to see that he was best first year in his house. His paperwork was well structured for the most part, a little of his family's prejudice peeked through from time to time. His wandwork was also above average, he seemed to lean towards Charms if anything. Transfiguration was a little shaky, but transfiguration could be a difficult class to master in your first year. He ignored the Potions praise, Severus was the boy's godfather, and though he was far from doting he didn't quite trust his judgment in this case.
Professor Pomona Sprout: He's studious, and does hand in his work. I would prefer that he would raise his hand to answer questions, instead of snarling over to others that answer the questions when they raise their hands. I cannot say he has a green wand when it comes to Herbology, I don't think he enjoys it like some of the other students do. Book work is one thing, but when it comes to the practicality of Herbology, he's a little hesitant to getting his hands dirty.
Professor Filius Flitwick: He does have the aptitude for the art of Charm's work...and he does have quite the logical mind, if only he would put aside his prejudices and just open up. He seems to be the orchestrator of Crabbe and Goyle, so far as to not be too far away when someone is either bullied or robbed of their sweets. He hasn't gotten into nearly as many detentions as his two friends, all because he's not actually doing anything wrong, just standing there and not saying a word. Someone needs to speak to him...preferrably not Severus, I've asked his several times, but nothing seems to be getting done.
Professor McGonagall: He does good work in the class, though he should be raising his hand and vocalizing a bit more. He needs to learn to work well with everyone else, this prejudice that I keep hearing him mutter out of the corner of his mouth is getting to be ridiculous.
Dumbledore, read the statements and saw that they almost all wanted to, except for Filius, wanted to avoid the fact that Draco's friends got into quite a mess of mischief. Either Draco just wasn't in tuned with what his friends were doing, or he's quite the master manipulator like his father was and still is. Now he turned his attention to Snape's take on the youth.
Professor Severus Snape: Draco is quite an admirable student, he has a gift for potions that I haven't seen in a long while. He stays out of trouble and works diligently, unfortunately, he is accosted by others that are jealous of his family's social status and their wealth. I respectfully ask that the other Heads of Houses are to ask their students to leave their jealousy out of dealing with Draco Malfoy.
Dumbledore had to cover his eyes after reading what he had just read. How could Snape be so blind? His Potions Master was normally so perceptive and able to discover any problem and cut if off at the quick, what was causing his Potion's master to lose his foresight?
He needed some better news to put him in better mood, Minerva was always talking about a Hermione Granger, so he placed the Slytherin pile aside for now and took out the Gryffindor pile.
Hermione Granger, it seemed that she was the most studious first year he had seen since Percy Weasley. She was quite adept at everything that the school had to offer...everything except Flying Class. It was the only class that really had no need for grades and it wouldn't affect her graduation from the first year to the second.
Professor Pomona Sprout: Granger is an absolute delight to have in the class, whatever question I have put to her has been answered correctly, if not recited from the book from sheer memory At the beginning of term, I felt that after a week or so she was not having as much fun as the other students, she looked quite unhappy, But...since Halloween, it seemed that she's gain a bit of a glow in her face. She's a grand student, but perhaps in her work and vocal answers we could use a little more of her words and not the texts.
Professor Filius Flitwick: Granger is a whiz of a Charms caster, I don't quite think I've seen her fail past her fourth attempt of the spell. She hasn't missed a question I've put out to the class and it's always an expected thing to see Granger's hand in the air. If I could be objective about something, I would say that it would be nice to hear her describe the answer in her own words, as opposed to the author of the text book.
Professor Minerva McGonagall: Granger is a model student, she keeps the friends around her up to date on their homework, which would no doubt in my mind get a behind, perhaps not nearly as bad as I have seen, but just enough to make moving forward for them a little difficult. She has yet to fail in any task I set before her. Her answers and essays get to be a bit predictable and I have tried correcting her on that matter.
Dumbledore smiled. He had to admit, reading Miss Granger's essays were a little predictable and slightly dull at best. If only she could...spice...it up with thoughts of her own. He was a little worried that someone was a little upset with their schoollife, especially one that seemed to do so well in the magical world, he hated losing a student to overwhelming loneliness. Thankfully, something happened to brighten her spirits.
Then he saw Severus' reply, he hated feeling dread when a teacher writes a progress report on a student.
Professor Severus Snape: She's annoying, reading her essays is tedious and hold no independent thought, even when I ask the class questions, she insists on answering each question, not willing to allow other students the chance to answer the question, I've quite calling on her all together, trying to urge the others to answer. It seems she incapable of any creative thought.
Dumbledore flinched slightly, Snape may have said it quite...harshly, but he did voice the concerns the other teachers had, but they did it in a kindly way. He had a feeling every student that wasn't wearing the Slytherin crest on their robes, they'd be described as hooligans or mere annoyances unworthy of his time.
Ronald Weasley, Dumbledore had to smile fondly. The last of the Weasley boys, he may not have been nearly as catastrophic as his older twin brothers, but he did get into his share of mischief.
His work was quite a bit simpler than Miss Grangers' but the answers were short and to the point. Seems that this was a no nonsense boy when it came to homework. No flowery words for this lad. Dumbledore just had to smile fondly.
Professor Pomona Sprout: Weasley may not have the mind of some of his older brothers, and thankfully not the tendencies to cause mayhem and chaos like Fred and George, but he does have a work ethic, short lived as it is. He's a normal boy that wants to have fun and avoid schoolwork at all costs, but he does get his homework done, a little short on some of the essays, but he does get the point across. A decent boy, but could use a little work in the tact department after some of the conversations I've listened in on.
Ah, the average student. The class of student that keeps the world going 'round and sets the curve for others. He adored these students, it was easy to impress them and give them a bit of a nudge of inspiration to pick up the pace on some of their work.
Professor Filius Flitwick: A boy perhaps after my own heart. He does love a good sweet every other minute. An average student who could use a bit of polishing up in his charms works, it's rare for him to get the spell right the first class. But when he does, his face lights up considerably, though he tries to not let his friends see. He reminds me of his father sometimes. A nice boy, a little coarse sometimes, but what boy really isn't?
Professor Minerva McGonagall: He doesn't have the intellect his brother Bill and Percy did, but he does have an intellect all of his own, and a great desire to stand out amongst his brothers. Thankfully he doesn't take after Fred and George, my nerves could only stand Potter, Black, Lupin and Pettigrew and the Weasley twins, I don't think I could stand a repeat performance. His work could use a bit of tuning up, but he does get the job done, not nearly as much as I would like, but it meets the standards that I set for my class.
Dumbledore took a deep breath, here came Severus' reply.
Professor Severus Snape: A dunderhead.
Dumbledore stared, that was all that Severus wrote? He turned the parchment over and looked at the back, nothing...He had never seen a note like this from Severus before. Either he was rushed in this report, or...there were no other words that could be said to such an old man who also was his employer.
He then saw the name that he had been hoping to see.
Harry Potter.
Professor Pomona Sprout: A quiet boy, not at all what I had thought him to be before he arrived. I expected him to retell the story of his scar at least once a week, but when someone does ask him, he shrugs, says he doesn't remember much and then look at them with those eyes of his until the others get too uncomfortable and walk away. He has a gift with plants, and though he may hide it, he looks at things with an examiners' eye and sets to work diligently. He must be in charge of the garden at home, I've never seen such a nicely done pruning on someone who wasn't an N.E.W.T student. Though, I wish he would raise his hand and answer a question, he'll answer if it is directed towards him, but not when it's asked to the class.
Professor Filius Flitwick: For the most famous boy in the school, he sure doesn't act like it. He keeps to himself mostly, and does his work with sound reasoning. He may not be in Granger's league for spellwork, but he is in one of the top five brightest students we have...though he may try to hide it. I know he's holding back, there are little discrepancies in his essays, there is information that wasn't in the book he was asked to read and not even Granger had it in her essay.
Dumbledore smiled thoughtfully, but there was confusion on his face, why was Harry holding back? Surely he would want to prove to the rest of them that he was more than just a famous scar and name. He read the boy's work and yes...there was something hidden in the essays that didn't seem to want to show itself. But...why?
Professor Minerva McGonagall: He's studious enough, but he needs to raise his hand in class more, a bit shy, but with Weasley and Granger's help he is coming out and speaking to others a bit more frequently. I still say it was an incorrect decision to leave him at his relatives, he seems a bit off than what he would have been in another's household. But regardless, he's a clever child and his work is well within reason.
Severus Snape: Not worth my time, he should have been kicked out months ago.
Dumbledore stared in wonder at the parchment. Once again, one sentence. Nothing more. He shook his head in disappointment. When would Severus let it go?
Suddenly, his door flew open and there was Minerva, as angry as he had ever seen her.
"Minerva...what is it?" said Dumbledore looking at her in shock. It was well past midnight, and she looked as if she were roused by someone who unfortunately might not be breathing anymore.
"I can hardly believe it, in all my years here..." growled Minerva hotly.
"My dear friend, I cannot understand what you are talking about, if you would elaborate..." said Dumbeldore gently.
"Three of my house, in addition to one Slytherin were out and about...strolling along as they please." said McGonagall.
"Elaborate." repeated Dumbledore gently.
"Two of my Gryffindors...my Gryffindors, decided to prank a Slytherin with some wild tale to get him out of bed, and then...another Gryffindor heard and tried to intervene, believing the wild tale." said McGonagall pacing back and forth.
"Minerva, who were the students?" asked Dumbledore, hoping to get close to the entire story.
"Well, the Slytherin was Draco Malfoy," said McGonagall.
Dumbledore looked at the file on his desk quickly.
"The three Gryffindor students...I have never been so ashamed." said McGonagall huffing. "Was Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."
Dumbledore stared in awe, "What on earth was their reason?"
"Some nonsense about a dragon...a dragon! I ask you Albus, what has gotten into children these days?" said McGonagall.
Dumbledore pressed his fingertips together. "I have no idea, but what punishment have you given them?"
"Detention." said McGonagall.
"Understandable." said Dumbledore.
"And fifty points...each." said McGonagall.
Dumbledore started.
"Each? Twenty points surely, but fifty?" said Dumbledore.
"These are dangerous times, Albus, especially with that stone." said McGonagall.
"They are, but Minerva..." said Dumbledore.
"Granger will easily bring the points back up with answering her questions, and Potter still has a final game. Severus will feel justified in giving Slytherins all those extra points he does in class." said McGonagall.
Without much more said, she left the Headmaster's room.
Dumbledore shook his head. Fifty points...that was a bit excessive. What drove her to that extreme?
In the boy's dormitories, Harry and Neville slumped towards their beds. Neville fell heavily onto his bed, without undressing and cried loudly into the pillow.
Harry watched Neville, his heart aching and reaching out for him. Poor Neville, he couldn't earn a single point for Gryffindor, he always lost them but never this much. Then there was Hermione, she's only lost points once since her arrival, and now there was a hundred and fifty...gone. Just like that. He could almost imagine the looks and the retribution that they were going to get the next morning.
Harry was sorry...he was really really sorry. He didn't want to even be at Hogwarts anymore, he didn't want to be anywhere, he let McGonagall down, he let Neville down, he let his parents, Inspector Homes, Mrs. McFinn, Dr. Clark and Officer McFinn down.
Neville stopped crying and turned his head.
"What...what...what are we going to do, Harry?" he said tearfully.
"I don't know...I do know what I'm going to do now, though." said Harry weakly.
"What is that?" asked Neville.
Harry stood up and walked into their dorm's bathroom and closed the door behind himself. The dorm was silent, until Neville heard a retching sound coming from behidn the door. Neville cried even more. If Harry couldn't make it better, no one could.
Harry came back, several minutes later, and laid down on the bed. His face, drawn, pale and sweaty. He clutched at his stomach and whimpered slightly. Neville continued his crying while Harry got up several times, and repeated the actions that he had done behind the closed doors. There would be little to no sleep for the two of them, and they could only imagine what Hermione was going through.
