Chapter 19: Norberta

Harry's POV

'is it just me or is it just hotter in here' I thought sweating inside Hagrid's hut. He recently invited me to his house to talk more about my parents and their time in Hogwarts, I was also joined by Hermione who stayed by my side since the whole Quidditch fiasco.

Hermione has gotten even more concerned about me and even though I do appreciate the sentiment, What I don't appreciate is her being a Mother hen for twenty-four seven with the exception of bed and bathroom time. She literally checks everything I have except for my suitcase since I absolutely forbade her to even touch it. I sigh just thinking about it, it was a hectic month for me but thankfully Hermione had been a bit lax since nothing happened to me after the Quidditch incident.

Selina was also not happy about the whole Quidditch incident and similar to Hermione watched over me twenty-four seven by coiling herself around my chest. This was something that was surprisingly comfortable than I expected as she weigh as much as a belt so I wasn't bothered that much with her being with me, I actually enjoyed her company. I also wrote to my Mom (Petunia) about everything has been going on while understating most of the dangerous situations I have faced in Hogwarts.

The month is currently April, Hermione and my studies has been going absolutely fantastic with me and her both earning at least 10 points to Ravenclaw every time we attend a class.

Professor McGonagall, My favorite teacher and professor appreciated that I started putting a lot of time and energy in her class Transfiguration and Potions. Flitwick and Sprout also similarly appreciated the more effort I am putting in my studies recently while teachers such as Quirrell and Binns didn't care much.

Hermione had already drawn her and my study schedule for preparing for the upcoming exam. I just sat there watching her amused since nobody in there right mind would think of preparing for exams that early but our sweet Hermione proven herself to be quite a stubborn workaholic and just revised the lessons learned from the entire year in just a week about three times or so.

Well coming back to the present, Hagrid was chatting about the times of the old days and also about the dangerous beast he wants particularly a dragon. My eyes started twitched at that as I know that there is probably an already hatched Norbert in the basket near where we are seated. After having our usual chat with the enthusiastic half giant, I finally ran out of patience and looked seriously at Hagrid.

"Hagrid, If there is one thing I know about you is that you are anything but subtle so if you don't mind why don't you introduce ourselves to your little friend" I said to him somewhat amused and then started looking towards the basket much to Hermione confusion who also joined me at looking towards the basket.

Hagrid paled and stumbled upon his step and tried to explain "What are you talkin' about Harry. There is no lit—" but was interrupted by Norbert herself who came out of her hiding place with a screeching roar and placed her gaze at my sight.

We both stared for a moment while Hermione was gasping and Hagrid was frozen stiff looking at his pet dragon. The dragon then ended the stare-down between us and leapt right at me. I immediately caught it with both of my arm and applied pressure to her soft spot to calm her down a bit. Hermione and Hagrid were looking at me with awe and shock.

"How did you know about the drag—" Hagrid tried to say but was interrupted by Hermione "Hagrid! Why is there a dragon in your hut?" as she asked him with anxiety coursing through her veins.

Hagrid sighs and explains him about the stranger (Quirrell) he met at Hogsmeade Village while going for a few drinks probably from The Hog's Head. The both played a game of cards and Hagrid won. The 'stranger' than gave him a dragon egg as Hagrid's winnings since this 'stranger' wanted to get rid of it. Hagrid worked for a while in hatching this dragon and named it Norberta AKA Norbert.

"Hagrid did this person asked you about the other animals that are in or around the castle?" I asked him still holding Norbert.

"Well. . . We did talk a lot about the many beasts that I know of. I also told him about Fluffy. Wait. . .you weren't supposed to know that" he answered and scowled at us after he mentioned Fluffy.

"Hagrid you live in a wooden hut so the entire place might burn down if this dragon just felt like it and also Dragon breeding is illegal." Hermione chided Hagrid. Hagrid was a bit flustered by that, I raised my hand to silence her from continuing her rant and looked at Hagrid.

"Hagrid as much as it pains me to say it, I have to agree with Hermione on this one. We need to get this dragon out of Hogwarts I know there is a person who is a dragonologist that may be able to help us. I just have to give a few favor to some individuals. I know you care for your animal friend but honestly Hagrid having a Norwegian Ridgeback is just asking for trouble" I said while still rubbing Norbert who was purring in my lap.

Hagrid was reluctant about separating with Norbert but somehow miraculously we were able to persuade him that Hogwarts is not the most ideal place for a Norwegian Ridgeback. After the classes, I met up with the Weasley twins.

"I need your help, both of your help" I said to the twin. Both of them simultaneously raised their eyebrow and asked

"What's in" Fred said and

"It for us?" George continued.

"Hagrid will still be in Hogwarts and I will tell you the real name of all the members of the Marauders"

Fred and George froze and then asked;

"How"

"Do you"

"know about"

"Them?"

My right eye started twitching with their back to back method of speech. I already realized a long time ago how it just gets on people nerve.

"I am related to one of them" I said and then explained the whole situation and wanted them to contact their brother Charlie Weasley who is a dragonologist working in the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary to smuggle Norbert out of here

The twins were at joy at listening to the words 'Dragon', 'smuggle' and 'secrets'. So when I asked if they could help they both nodded their rapidly.

They went back to their room and wrote the letter to their brother while I took care of the Norwegian Ridgeback myself for a while.

My Familiar Selina the Basilisk whom was at the time sleeping and hiding by coiling around my chest started waking up. The first thing she did after waking up was to look at me blankly and then look at the Norwegian Ridgeback and hiss pitifully "Master am I not good of a familiar for you? I thought you were going to be mine so why is this infant dragon here being carried around by you" she then looks at me with the most pitiful look I have ever seen

I spluttered and started laughing maniacally. Selina was confused at first then realized that she has just jumped to conclusion. She then stares daggers at me then nicks me at the neck with no poisonous venom. I then explained to her what was really happening.

"You. . . you stupid master. You could have just told me that." She hissed at me still mad.

I smirked at that "weren't you still pitying yourself because I was throwing you away" I cooed at her much to her irritation and embarrassment.

We both had our friendly squabble with each other and then we returned back to caring for Norbert who was staring at us innocently.

The twins after a couple of hours return with a letter from Charlie Weasley himself which read;

Dear Fred and George,

How are the both of you? Thanks for the letter - I'd be glad to take the Norwegian Ridgeback, but it won't be easy getting him here. I think the best thing will be to send him over with some friends of mine who are coming to visit me next week. Trouble is, they mustn't be seen carrying an illegal dragon.

Could you get the Ridgeback up the tallest tower at midnight on Saturday? They can meet you there and take him away while it's still dark.

Send me an answer as soon as possible.

Love,

Charlie

Well, we waited till Saturday and I placed Norbert on a crate. Hagrid himself put a bunch of rats for Norbert and cried at seeing his little baby dragon leave him so young. We were able to keep this secret from everybody amazingly and smoothly me and the twins were able to get the crate to the highest tower.

About ten minutes later, four broomsticks came swooping down out of the darkness.

Charlie's friends were a cheery lot. They showed me and the twins the harness they'd rigged up, so they could suspend Norbert between them. They all helped buckle Norbert safely into it and then me and the twins shook hands with the others and thanked them very much.

At last, Norbert was going. . . going. . . gone.

The twins and I ran to the nearest most secure location where no staff member especially Filch would be able to find us.

The twins then asked the question they wanted answers for since they found the Marauder's Map.

"Okay Harry!"

"This was sort of exciting."

"but you have to keep you end of the bargain"

"and tell us the name of our idols"

I just told them the honest truth bluntly "Well the four Marauders were four Gryffindor students. My father, James Potter being Prongs. My Godfather, Sirius Black being Padfoot. A werewolf friend of the both of them, Remus Lupin being Moony and lastly Peter Pettigrew, a nobody being wormtail."

I left them silently laughing at their shocked faces and left for my common room.

=====Scene Break=====

St. Mungo's Hospital:

Sirius was laying on his bed thinking about the past few days that have gone by. It was still a bit bizarre for him to finally have freedom. Alastor had some good friends from this place so he was able to get admitted without any sort of problem and get himself through recovery.

Alastor was sitting beside him. The silence was suffocating for Sirius so he started speaking "Moody, there is just one question in my head that I am still curious about"

Alastor now looks at his direction and says "Ask away boy"

Sirius then questioned "Who is the one that sent the damn rat and that letter to Amelia?" since he was genuinely curious about it.

Moody squirms himself and lowly speaks "it was a third party that sent it but he was hired by someone mostly everyone from the wizarding world knows"

Sirius now growls lightly "Dumbledore". Honestly after what happened with him. He didn't felt like owing any favors to the old man as he wasn't the biggest fan of his.

Alastor shakes his head "You were close but nah. Dumbledore has nothing to do with it. It was honestly your godson who hired the man that caught Pettigrew and wrote that letter. It baffled everyone involved even me that he somehow was a part of all of this since everyone believed he was recently introduced to the wizarding world."

Sirius eyes widens at that "Harry but why and how?" he asked completely bewildered by Harry's involvement.

Moody answers with "The boy somehow believed enough that Pettigrew was still alive and you were framed. The how part is probably by Gringotts giving him the contact for the mercenary that the boy later hired just for catching Pettigrew and delivering him and the letter to Amelia."

Sirius was now just gobsmacked by the entire thing Moody just said but then he tried to think about the entire situation from different perspectives. He fails miserably at that and decided to rest since his mind still hasn't been completely recovered from the damage caused by Azkaban and their lovely Dementors.

Note the sarcasm with the word 'lovely'

=====Scene Break=====

Malfoy Manner:

A little bit while after Dobby told Lucius about who really sent the letter from Hogwarts and convinced Lucius enough by saying that it was a given to Lucius as a dare by the Malfoy heir. Draco was reprimanded to the extreme by Lucius himself much to Draco's confusion and anger.

After that Dobby was sent back to his work on caring for the manor while Lucius deal a proper punishment to Draco. During that time, Narcissa finally was able to get her hands on the crazy House elf (Dobby) that sticks with Lucius Malfoy for most of his time.

She was fortunately somehow able to convinced the elf to deliver her news from the outside world since she has been trapped in the manner for a long time and doesn't know much about what's been going on after the fall of The Dark Lord.

Soon Dobby became more loyal to Lady Malfoy and did everything she ordered him to do since Narcissa was a lot fairer than Lord Malfoy. Now Dobby was working on somehow secretly deliver the news of what's recently happened outside the Malfoy Manner to Narcissa Malfoy since Lord Lucius Malfoy has isolated Lady Malfoy that she couldn't exit her own room.

Dobby gave her everything from The Daily Prophet, The Quibbler (much to Narcissa amusement) and a lot of Pamphlets, articles and books about the recent events that have taken place outside of her own home and disappeared with a POP!

She was surprised by some news such as Harry Potter discarding his own name and changed it to Harry Evans which irked the other pureblood supremacists family and the rumor that recently the DMLE has been working on a case and preparing for a trial on the Wizengamot session. Somehow, Narcissa felt that this trial is a going to cause havoc on the wizarding world.

Dobby then appeared again with a POP!. Now carrying some refreshments for Narcissa. Narcissa appreciated that and thanked him much to Dobby's happiness. She then asked him curious "Dobby when you went to Hogwarts did you meet this Harry Evans?"

Dobby's eyes widens and then nods swiftly saying "Of course my lady, Dobby met Master Potter and we talked a lot about the letter from Hogwarts that was given to Master Malfoy. He also called Dobby a friend" ending his answer with a smile

Narcissa couldn't help but be surprised by that since pureblood wizards that are friendly to House elf are very rare and can be count on one hand. She than gets an idea and immediately speaks with Dobby "Dobby, what if I have ordered you to go to Hogwarts and back and bring me information from Harry Evans himself. Would you do it?" since she believed that she could get what's truly happening inside the castle as that is Dumbledore base and there is no news of what happens at there.

Dobby nods and says " Of course My lady, As House elf will do anything for their masters"

"Then I ordered you to pass me information from Mr. Evans himself" she then gave the orders and the House elf disappears with a POP!.

'Now comes the hardest part, waiting for my answers' she sadly thought while reading the rest of the information from the given sources.