The longest chapter I have written so far.
HERMIONE II
She was going through the instructions to prepare the Wiggenweld Potion once more in Magical Drafts and Potions. According to Snape, if they weren't able to memorize the steps to prepare the most basic potions they learned this year, they would fail their Potions exam. For Hermione, it was out of the question to fail any exam in any subject. She couldn't bear the idea of not getting into the second year.
Two people muffled laughs not far from her. She looked over her book and rolled her eyes. Somehow Ron had found something funny inside The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection. And Harry found it hilarious as well judging from his reaction. They were in the library, on a Saturday, studying and completing their homework since the morning, and Hermione's nerves were on edge.
"Can you stop giggling like little girls?" she said between her teeth. "I'm trying to revise."
"We still have six weeks before the exams," Ron said. "We just came back from Easter."
"Harry came back from Easter," Hermione corrected. He was the only to visit his family for the Easter holidays. "I told my parents I couldn't come home. I had too much work to do. And you too as well. I still don't understand how you managed to visit your mother for four days, Harry."
"I found time." Harry was back into One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. "The truth is, we couldn't do much. My mother was too much occupied between moving from house and studying to become an Auror. You should have seen the pack of books on her desk. A little more and she needed to make holes in the ceiling."
"I thought it would be more fun, training to become an Auror," Ron said.
"It's a very demanding profession, Ronald. They spend their time chasing dark wizards and bringing them to justice. No wonder they need three years of additional study before they begin to work," Hermione said.
"Okay, but I thought training as an Auror would be a little more... physical? Practical?"
"They do have training," Harry replied. "The other day, she made an obstacle course. They had to get though it as quickly as possible without being hit by a single spell."
"Cool!"
"Yes, but before any session, she must put hours in preparation, sometimes tens of hours."
"Boring," Ronald commented. He returned to his class manual of Defence against Dark Arts. He sighed repeatedly, the time between each new sigh growing thinner. Finally, he dropped his heavy book loudly on the table. "I'll never remember this! Anyway, that's useless! How much will we retain after school is over? Will any of this be useful in life?"
"If you don't find it useful, you can leave and let Harry and I work in peace," Hermione retorted.
"I think that's what I'm going to do."
"Ron, you don't have to leave," Harry said.
"Well, she wants me to."
And Ron left. Hermione rolled her eyes again and returned to her book, but she could feel Harry's eyes on her.
"What?" she said after a moment.
"You went a little too hard on him," he commented.
"We are in the middle of a period of exams."
"I know, and he feels the pressure like we do. You realize how much homework the professors have been giving us lately?"
"Of course. I'm doing my homework, unlike him."
"He's doing them. Maybe not as well as you do, and maybe at the last minute, but he does them."
"You do them better than him."
Harry smiled a little. "That's not the question. I mean, we're both on edge. I know you don't get along well, but you don't need to get on each other's nerves either. It won't make your revision better."
What Harry said made sense. Hermione returned her attention to her book, but she couldn't get back the same concentration that she previously had. It seemed that Harry couldn't either. After a few minutes, he sighed as well and closed his book. Then he yawned and stretched.
"We've been doing since eight o'clock?" he asked.
"Seven o'clock," she corrected.
"That's for you. I arrived later. It's two o'clock. What if we went to visit Hagrid? It's been a long time. And I think a pause would do us some good."
Hermione had to concede that she was tired. She rubbed her eyes and laid her book on the table as well. "Okay. Hey, we could ask him about the Philosopher's Stone."
"Yes, you're right. I don't know why we haven't done it yet."
They both left the library and headed in the direction of Hagrid's house. The Philosopher's Stone had been a great subject of discussion for Harry and Hermione ever since they came back from the Christmas holidays. Harry had fallen by chance upon another Chocolate Frog's card of Albus Dumbledore.
Albus Dumbledore, currently Headmaster of Hogwarts. Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark Wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and ten-pin bowling.
That was where Harry had heard the name of Nicolas Flamel for the first time, on the Hogwarts Express in September. For once, she had wanted to thank Ron for making Harry discover Chocolate Frogs. Hermione then found another reference to Nicolas Flamel in another book she borrowed for light reading.
The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The Stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal.
There have been many reports of the Philosopher's Stone over the centuries, but the only one Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera-lover. Mr Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hunder and fifty-eight).
First, Hermione and Harry were skeptical, and Ronald was more than that. They didn't see why Dumbledore would hide the Philosopher's Stone in Hogwarts. Why not hide it in Gringotts or anywhere else? Why hide it in plain sight of students and professors? Harry and Hermione thought the three-headed dog might be hiding something else, and Ron said he didn't care. He didn't want to go back any close to that animal. But then Harry surprised part of a conversation between Snape and Quirrell after his victory on Hufflepuff. He told her and Ronald right away when he came back to Gryffindor's common house. Ron was upset that he talked about this while there were celebrations in the common room and left them, but Hermione listened to everything Harry had heard. There was no doubt, Fluffy was guarding the Philosopher's Stone.
Hermione had deduced long ago that Fluffy was guarding something, but she didn't expect it would be a Philosopher's Stone. Now it explained why Snape wanted it so badly. There were many people who would be ready to kill for the possibility to make gold in limitless quantity and for eternal life. No wonder Snape let a troll inside the castle at Halloween and tried to kill Harry after he and Hermione ruined his plan by neutralizing the troll. Hermione was afraid that Snape would try something on her now.
Thinking about the Philosopher's Stone was sort of freeing. She thought so much about exams lately. She felt she was about to crack down. Thinking about something else was like taking a huge breath of fresh air. It didn't take them long to arrive in the park then to reach Hagrid's house. Harry knocked on the door right away.
"You think he's going to help us?" she asked.
"I don't know. Let's hope he will."
The gamekeeper opened his door and welcomed them with a warm smile and shining eyes. "Hi you two! Ron is not with you?"
"No." Hermione answered shortly and quickly before Harry could say anything.
"Oh. Well, too bad. Come in. I can prepare you some tea if you want."
"Yes, thank you." Tea was one of the few things Hagrid knew how to prepare and that they could actually either drink or eat. The cups were the size of huge bowls, but it did great good to Hermione as she took a sip.
"So, I hear you're fully into preparations for exams?" he asked.
"Yes," Harry confirmed.
"Glad you still have time to visit your friend."
"Hagrid," Harry began. Hermione noticed how careful he sounded. "We know for the Philosopher's Stone."
Hagrid still had the tea-pot in hands. It fell on the ground and broke in a thousand pieces. Fang came to lick it. Hagrid got a broom very quickly and got rid of the fragments.
"How did you hear about it?" he asked, obviously worried and angry at the same time.
"You told us it was about Nicolas Flamel, Hagrid," Hermione said. "We found out who he is, and the Philosopher's Stone he made. And Harry surprised a conversation between Snape and Quirrell. They spoke about it."
Hagrid groaned. "These two! They should have been more careful! And you shouldn't have been listening," Hagrid added while pointing Harry.
"Hagrid, Snape was threatening Quirrell!" Harry said. "He wanted his help to get past Fluffy."
"That's impossible. The Professor is among those who protect that Stone. He can't be trying to steal it."
"Among those? You mean, there's more than Fluffy protecting the Stone?"
"Of course! Dumbledore wasn't going to take half-measures to protect it. Although I'd say all the other protections are useless. No one ever managed to get past Fluffy," he said proudly. "No one knows how to get past him, except Dumbledore and I."
"But what else is protecting the Stone?"
"I can't tell you. We shouldn't even be talking about it. You shouldn't even be aware of its presence, not even its existence. Anyway, I don't know what protects the Stone beside Fluffy."
"They talk about it in history books and other books in the library, Hagrid," Hermione pointed out.
"Okay, Hagrid," resumed Harry. "Look, you told us that Snape helped protect the Stone. Who else did?"
"I shouldn't tell you."
"Please, Hagrid," Hermione said. "We're not asking what is protecting the Stone. We just want to know who besides Snape Dumbledore entrusted with protecting it."
Hagrid sighed and finally relented. "Alright. I suppose it can't hurt that I tell you. Anyway, you know already so much. Dumbledore borrowed Fluffy from me. He contributed to the protection of the Stone himself, and he got the help of Professors Sprout, Flitwick, McGonagall, Quirrell, and yes, also Snape. You see? The Stone is safe."
If he meant to reassure them, it didn't really work. Hermione looked to Harry. They both thought the same thing. If Snape contributed to put into place defences for the Philosopher's Stone, then it would be easier for him to steal it. All he was missing seemed to be Quirrell's help and a way to get past Fluffy.
"Hagrid, you swear, only you and Dumbledore know how to get past Fluffy? And you would never tell anybody, not even another teacher?" Hermione asked.
"No one but Dumbledore and I," Hagrid confirmed, still proud.
"Well, that's something," Harry muttered.
"I hope you're reassured now. This Stone is in the safest place it can be. No one is going to steal it."
"But why keep it here? Why in Hogwarts? Why not in Gringotts or somewhere else safer?"
"It's true," Hermione added. "We came face to face with Fluffy. An entire corridor is forbidden from access. I'm surprised Fred and George Weasley haven't already tried to get into it." Hagrid seemed to share their concerns on this latter point. "Why keep it here at Hogwarts?"
"Because it's the safest place in the world," Hagrid said. He straightened himself in his chair and looked directly into their eyes. "Look, the Stone was at Gringotts before. It was me who moved it from the bank to the school. And the very same day, someone broke into that vault, not long after I was there."
Hermione was stunned in surprise. "But I thought the vaults of Gringotts were inviolable," Harry said. "I even heard that thieves got stuck into traps, and goblins leave them trapped for years before they get them out."
"Not this time," Hagrid said on a grave tone. "Whoever did this managed to get into this vault and to leave it unscathed, all in the same day, and right after I went there. Whoever tried to steal that stone is a powerful wizard, well versed in the dark arts."
"Powerful enough to jinx a broomstick during a Quidditch match?" Hermione asked.
Hagrid said nothing for a moment. He looked at Harry, a sorry look in his eyes. "Look, Harry. I'm sorry for what happened in November. Perhaps I didn't take it seriously. But I can swear you something, it's that Dumbledore is doing everything he can to find out who did this. And this discussion you surprised between Quirrell and Snape... They must have been quarrelling because they're both looking to apprehend the person who's trying to steal the Stone."
"That's not the impression they gave me, Hagrid," Harry said. He then recounted the whole conversation as he heard it, but it didn't seem to have any effect on Hagrid.
"You didn't hear a part of the conversation, Harry. You just misinterpreted it. Dumbledore would never hire a teacher who could steal."
"He did hire one who favours his own house," Harry commented, not needing to specify who this was.
"Harry, that's enough. Dumbledore trusts Snape, and I trust Dumbledore. And you should trust him too, and stop meddling into things that don't concern you."
In the end, this meeting with Hagrid did provide them with more information about how the Stone was protected and why it was at Hogwarts. But Hagrid was still certain that Snape would never try to steal the Philosopher's Stone. Hermione couldn't believe how stubborn their friend was.
"We should try to help Quirrell," Harry said.
"How?"
"By helping him to stand up to Snape."
"And how?" Hermione asked again.
Harry shrugged after a moment. "I don't know."
Hermione sighed. "Perhaps Hagrid is right. I mean, not about Snape, but about not getting involved with that. Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard in the world. He will never allow the Stone to be stolen."
"He couldn't stop someone from cursing my Nimbus, or from getting a troll inside the castle." Even Hermione had to concede it was true.
"Okay. Maybe we should try to keep an eye on Snape and Quirrell, just in case."
"For Snape, it will not be difficult. I have the impression that he's always following me wherever I go."
"Anyway, Harry, you heard Hagrid. Only he and Dumbledore know how to get past Fluffy, and all the other professors protected it, even Dumbledore himself. Even if Quirrell does end up helping Snape, it will probably not be enough. Not with Dumbledore who's around."
"Maybe," Harry finally conceded.
"We should go back to the library. Exams are still coming."
"I think I'll go back to the common room. I might help Ron to finish his homework."
"If you want to."
Hermione had shrugged. She had accepted that Harry was Ronald's friend and that he would have to divide his time between her and Ron. She just hoped Ron would not transfer his bad habits to Harry.
The following days were filled with homework and study. Seeing him on a regular basis, Hermione could tell that Ronald was late and struggled to make all the homework their teachers gave them. Harry was struggling as well, though not as much. The revision timetables she prepared for him must have helped, for sure. In an attempt to be likeable with Ron, she offered to prepare him one as well, but he flatly refused, which did not make things easier for him. Then, one morning at breakfast during the week, Hedwig, Harry's snowy owl, brought him a letter.
"It's Hagrid. He says he wants to show us something. A big surprise, he says. He's inviting us at the end of the day," he summarized.
"We can't. We have too much work," Hermione said. "We can't spend the evening at Hagrid's house."
"He seems pretty excited. I wonder what this is he wants to show us," Harry said, his expression curious.
"Well, anything to escape my homeworks," Ron said. "Even if it's only for an hour or two. I'm going."
Harry was really intrigued as well. He gave the letter to Hermione so she could read it too. Indeed, Hagrid looked really excited. His scribble was more unreadable than ever, and he insisted several times in a very short message that it was something really worth seeing.
On Harry's insistence, and Ron's too, who she was tired of hearing again and again, she agreed to go during the morning break. They would lose less time this way. Harry accepted the compromise, and Ron begrudgingly accepted to follow them both, probably regretting he wouldn't get more time away from his homework. They ran to Hagrid's hut as soon as the bell resonated at the end of the Herbology class, and knocked at his door the moment they were in front of it.
Hagrid barely opened the door. From his face in the gap, he looked very surprised to see them.
"I wasn't expecting you. Did I tell you to come this morning? I'm sure I was talking about the evening," he said.
Hermione then noticed that all the curtains were drawn, making it impossible to see inside the hut. This, added to the worried expression on Hagrid's face, began to make her feel uneasy. What was this surprise Hagrid wanted to show them so much? She then heard a shriek coming from inside the house, and judging from Harry's and Ron's reactions, they heard it as well.
"Hurry, come inside," Hagrid told them all of a sudden.
He almost dragged them inside and closed the door right away behind them. Hermione barely heard the loud noise of the door closing behind them. She stood still, agape at the sight in front of her. On the table, a small green creature with pointed wings, a long snout with huge nostrils, clawed feet under thin legs and a long tail observed them with its orange eyes. It sneezed. Sparks came out of its snout.
"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid said, emotion strangling his voice.
"Hagrid... is this a dragon?" Hermione asked.
"Not any dragon," Ron jumped in. He approached the beast. "It's a Norwegian Ridgebacks." She was surprised that Ron knew the species. She must have looked surprised, for he said something when he looked back at her. "My brother Charlie studies dragons in Romania."
Of course. Now she remembered. Ron hadn't gone home during Christmas holidays because his parents were visiting this brother. She thought he had another one too who had graduated from Hogwarts, but she couldn't recall his name.
"Where did you find him?" Harry asked.
"I won him. From a stranger while playing cards. When he was still in his egg. I hatched it myself," he proudly said. "So, don't you find him beautiful?"
"Hagrid," Hermione began, carefully and afraid, "You know that dragon-breeding was outlawed by the Warlock's Convention of 1709?"
But Hagrid didn't seem to listen to her. He only had eyes for the little dragon.
Later during their lunch in the Great Hall, they were discussing avidly about what they just saw this morning. For once, Ronald seemed on the same opinion as Hermione.
"What is Hagrid going to do? He cannot keep this dragon inside his hut forever. Doesn't he know that Norwegian Ridgebacks grow very quickly?"
"And what if someone finds out he has one?" Harry asked. "You said it's forbidden, against the law. Could Hagrid go to Azkaban if it was discovered?"
Azkaban. Even to Hermione who came from a Muggle family, the name sent chills down her spine. "If they have time to do it," Ron said. "Let's suppose this dragon burns us all before someone denounces him."
"You're not thinking about reporting Hagrid, Ron?" Harry asked angrily.
"Of course not! You're not?" Ron then asked Hermione.
She hesitated. Only for a second. "No, of course! I would never do that!"
Ron didn't seem to believe her, and Harry looked at her strangely. She felt ashamed all of a sudden. She had considered reporting Hagrid to a teacher, but perhaps...
"Maybe we could tell Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster," she suggested. "He could arrange for Norbert to be moved out..." Norbert was the name Hagrid had given to this baby dragon. But Harry immediately made his opposition known.
"You're mad? Hagrid was expelled during his third year here. He was lucky to become the gamekeeper. If we tell Dumbledore or any professor about it, he will be fired."
"But we cannot let him keep that... beast. I mean, he's living in a wooden house. A wooden house."
"For once, she's right," Ron said. "We should go back this evening and make him understand that he can't keep it."
They did. Well, they tried, but Hagrid wanted to hear nothing about this. Only within a half-day, the dragon seemed to have grown. Harry and Ronald cared less and less about their revisions, and the truth was Hermione didn't care much any longer. They couldn't let Hagrid keep that dragon.
Within a few days, the dragon grew so much that he tripled in size. Hagrid was limping and neglecting his other duties. He was always inside his hut with Norbert. The number of chickens in his courtyard was dropping by the tens, and Fang refused to come inside the house any longer. They tried everything to convince him he had to give up the dragon, but Hagrid refused. He said he was too young, that he would die.
One evening, Ron came back from Hagrid's hut. They were now taking turns in trying to reason Hagrid. Only this night, Ronald seemed particularly angry.
"It bit me!" He almost screamed it. His hand, wrapped in a bloody handkerchief, was a testimony to the fact that this time, he wasn't complaining for nothing. "He refused to talk to me unless I would help him feed that beast. I tell you, that dragon is the most horrible I've ever met, but the way Hagrid goes on about it, you would think it was a little bunny rabbit. He says he bit me only because I frightened him, and then he began singing him a lullaby."
Both Harry and Hermione were exasperated with Hagrid's attachment to this dragon. The day after, Ron's hand had inflated to twice its size, and turned green in the afternoon. They had no choice. They brought him to the infirmary. Harry and Hermione went back to see Hagrid before the curfew, to no avail. Hagrid refused to let go of Norbert, who would soon occupy the whole hut.
Hermione and Harry were alone in common room late this night. Everyone else had gone to sleep. They were desperate. Even Hermione felt sorry for Ron. Even she couldn't deny that it wasn't Ron's fault that he was bitten by the dragon.
"What are we going to do?" Harry asked her. "Hagrid doesn't want to let it go, but he has to. Before Norbert burns him and feasts on him."
"I know, but we tried everything. He won't set it free because he says that he will not survive at his age. He said the books he borrowed at the library said so. I went to read them just to prove him wrong, but it turns out he's right. He will not let Norbert go. Unless... Maybe... If we find someone else who would take Norbert."
Harry nodded. They both remained silent for a long time. "Hermione, you're a genius!"
"What?"
"Charlie. Charlie Weasley. Ron's brother. The one who's in Romania and studies dragon. Perhaps he could take Norbert and take care of him."
Hermione thought about it for a moment. "Yes, that could work. We would need to organize for Charlie to come here and take him without anyone noticing but... Yes, it's possible." She looked at the clock. "We're too far away from curfew. We can't go and see Ron about it now. We'll go to the infirmary tomorrow in the morning and we can use Hedwig to send a letter to Ron's brother."
"Yes. I hope she will be back by then."
"What do you mean, back? Hedwig is not here?"
Harry looked a little embarrassed all of a sudden. "I sent a letter to my mother this morning. It had been too long since I didn't send her one, with the exams and everything."
Hermione sighed. "Well, if she's not back, we'll take another owl in the Owlery. There's no time to lose."
They both went to bed and woke up early to go and visit Ron. He found their idea wonderful and promised to write a letter for Charlie, even if it was with his left hand. Both Harry and Hermione then ran to Hagrid's hut to tell him about their plan.
However, when they knocked at his door, nobody answered. They knocked again, and no answer came either.
"Hagrid, it's us. We found a way so that Norbert would be taken care of," Harry said loudly.
Hermione looked around. By chance, there was no one else on the horizon. Everyone seemed to be in the Great Hall for breakfast. But there didn't seem to be anybody in Hagrid's house. Hermione stuck her ear to the door. No sound came from the inside. Not even Norbert was making any noise. Hermione feared the worst.
"Hagrid," Harry continued, "we're here to help you. You cannot..."
Before Harry could complete his sentence, the door opened. But it wasn't the shaggy figure of Hagrid who welcomed them. It was Professor Dumbledore who stood in the doorframe.
Hermione was stunned. The Headmaster was there, right in front of them. And he certainly heard what Harry had said. She looked at him, and he was just as stunned as she was.
"I see that I'm not the only one taking an interest in that baby dragon," he said with a half-smile.
"Professor..." Hermione began tentatively, unsure of what they should say.
"It's alright, Miss Granger. Come in. The four of us have much to discuss."
Hermione and Harry exchanged looks. What were they going to do? What would Dumbledore do to them? More importantly, what would happen to Hagrid? Reluctantly, they walked in. Hagrid was sitting at the table, his eyes red, the expression of someone who had done something wrong on his face. When he saw Hermione and Harry, he turned to Dumbledore and began to speak on a pleading tone.
"Professor, please, they have nothing to do..."
"Hagrid, please." Hogwarts' Headmaster sat down, then he invited Harry and Hermione to sit, which they both did. Hermione's legs were shaking. "I think it is better if they are here to listen to what I have to say, to all of you."
Hermione was looking around the hut. Before she could ask herself the question, Albus Dumbledore replied to it.
"Norbert is in that box." He pointed a huge wooden box in a corner. Hermione saw that it was about Norbert's size. A breathing sound came from it. "He is sleeping. I used a spell to do it. Young dragons are much less resistant than adults. So we will not be interrupted while we discuss."
The Headmaster said nothing for a moment. He was looking at Hagrid, but Hagrid only looked down at his boots. Hermione felt she would assist to something she absolutely didn't want to see. Dumbledore knew that Hagrid kept a dragon in his hut. Surely he would be fired for this.
"Hagrid, what were you thinking?" Dumbledore said in a soft tone, but with a very clear note of reproach in it. "Keeping a dragon in your house? Feeding him? Raising him?"
"I just... I just thought..." Hagrid tried to articulate.
"That you could own a dragon, like you always wanted. Hagrid, have you considered the danger he could pose to the school and our students?"
"He's not a threat, Professor. Norbert... he's only a baby. He never hurt anybody."
"Really, Hagrid? You were limping when you opened the door, and I noticed the burn marks on your hands and your arms, and also under your beard when I came in. And don't forget about Fang."
The dog had a huge bandage around his tail. Dumbledore didn't say it, but the carnage around the house was only further proof that Norbert was no peaceful pet.
"It was just to laugh. He's sorry about it."
"What about Mr Ronald Weasley who is in the infirmary?"
Hagrid took more time to answer this time. "He's just a baby. He doesn't understand..."
Tears were streaming from Hagrid's eyes, but Dumbledore didn't let him finish. "Hagrid, this is not Norbert's behavior that I am questioning. He is a dragon. I do not expect him to go against his nature. It is your decision that I am questioning. You knew that it is forbidden to own a dragon, and for very good reasons. You knew it was dangerous to bring one here at Hogwarts. And yet you did it. Your first duty as a gamekeeper, like all the other staff in this school, is to ensure the safety of our students. Have you even thought about it when you accepted that egg?"
Hagrid didn't answer this time. He just stayed there, crying. After a moment, Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder.
"Hagrid, I don't want you to leave. But I need you to take your responsibilities and admit your wrong in this case."
For a moment, they waited. Finally, Hagrid burst uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Professor. I won this egg while playing cards. I couldn't just leave it somewhere. I had to take care of it."
"A school is not a place for a dragon, Hagrid. You have one of the greatest hearts in the world for magical creatures, but you cannot let that blind you to the danger they can pose to humans. They are not made to live with them. They are a danger for us as much as we are a danger to them. You should have come to me the moment you received that egg. I would have arranged for his transport to Romania right away if you had. That's probably why you didn't tell me. You wanted to keep him."
Hagrid nodded, obviously ashamed.
"Hagrid, you disappoint me," Professor Dumbledore said. "You are not leaving, but the dragon is. I already arranged everything. I contacted Charlie Weasley. Some of his friends will come tonight and bring him with them for Romania. In the meantime, Norbert will remain in that box. Is that understood?"
Hermione was surprised. It was as if Dumbledore had read their minds and put into motion the very plan they were thinking about. Hagrid nodded again.
"And I want to be clear, Hagrid. I cannot let you endanger the students of Hogwarts again for a magical creature, no matter how attached you are to it. We are lucky that only you, Fang and Mr Weasley were injured, and that these injuries were minor. Madam Pomfrey assured me that Mr Weasley would have fully recovered in no time. I hope you realize how lucky you are."
"Yes, Professor," Hagrid said in such a low tone that they barely heard him. Dumbledore nodded slightly as well, then he turned towards Harry and Hermione. "Now, you both. It is my understanding that you played no part in bringing this dragon to Hogwarts, am I correct?"
"Yes, Professor," they both replied in a low tone.
"Good. However, I'm surprised you didn't come to me, or any other professor, to tell us about what was going on."
"Professor, please," Hagrid begged. "I'm the one who brought Norbert here. Harry and Hermione are for nothing in this. They just wanted to help me."
"We were afraid that you might fire Hagrid," Harry said. "We were trying to find a way to get the dragon far away."
"Without anyone noticing, so this way your friend wouldn't get into any trouble," Dumbledore summarized. "I understand that. But if you had come to me first, you would have realized that Hagrid was not in trouble, and your friend Ronald Weasley might not be in the infirmary as we speak. Although, I can understand why you wouldn't have expected me to show such mercy to Hagrid, given how raising a dragon is outlawed."
"Professor, please, don't punish them," Hagrid begged again.
"I will not, Hagrid. If someone deserves to be punished here, it's you. But I think Ronald Weasley is unlikely to want you to be punished. Your punishment will consist in returning to your duties as gamekeeper that you neglected lately, and to part ways with Norbert. As for Harry and Hermione, they get a warning." He looked to the two of them very straight. "Next time something like that happen, you come to see me. I would rather hear things like this directly from my students, rather than having mothers bursting into my office and telling me about all this."
This time, Hermione was too confused to understand what the Headmaster meant. "What are you talking about? Mothers bursting into your office..." Her gaze fell on Harry, who looked quite ashamed all of a sudden. "Harry?" Hermione called him using the tone she wanted reproaching and warning.
He looked at her, still clearly ashamed. "I'm sorry, Hermione. When I wrote her yesterday, I told her about Norbert."
"What? Why did you do this?"
"We didn't know what to do. I thought maybe she could come up with a solution."
What had gone through Harry's mind? Did he truly ask his mother how to get a dragon outside of Hogwarts without anyone noticing?
"And the moment she received your letter, Harry, she came to me," Dumbledore declared. "Which is exactly what you should have done in the first place. She was scared for you, especially after the events of Halloween and your first Quidditch match. She didn't want you to get into anymore trouble. You're lucky to have her."
The Headmaster stood up. He looked to Hagrid. "I want you to resume your duties right now. Say goodbye to Norbert, Hagrid. And think about the fact that he will be much happier in Romania. He's leaving tonight. I expect, no, I order all of you to do as if this incident never happened. Don't talk about this to anybody if you want to avoid trouble with the Ministry of Magic. As for you two, come with me. We need to have another discussion. And I hope you will make sure that Mr Weasley says nothing about this incident neither."
Harry followed Dumbledore, and Hermione followed Harry. They all found themselves outside the hut, away from Hagrid. Hermione kept sending dismayed gazes at Harry. Really, he had been foolish enough to tell the whole story to his own mother?
"Now," Albus Dumbledore started, "it has come to my attention that you've discovered what is being hidden on the third floor." Hermione was shocked as well. And then she guessed how Dumbledore knew about it before he said it. "Your mother showed the whole content of your letter, Harry." But what the Headmaster said next surprised Hermione way more. "I have to admit that you both impress me. Very few students would have discovered what was behind this three-headed dog. You must have searched a long time to discover the truth. Few people would have shown such endurance and determination."
Hermione felt red coming to her cheeks. Being complimented by the Headmaster of the school was a rare deed. But Dumbledore was far from done with them.
"I'm also aware of your suspicions about Professor Snape. So let me put this to rest once and for all. Severus Snape is not trying to steal the Stone, and he did not try to kill Harry during the Quidditch game."
This time, Hermione had to intervene. "Professor, I saw him during the match. He was muttering spells while Harry's broomstick was going mad. He was staring at the broomstick all the time, and the curse was broken only when he broke eye contact with it."
Dumbledore nodded, as if she was just giving a presentation. "You are right on one point, Miss Granger. Professor Snape was indeed casting a spell on Harry's broomstick." Hermione's eyes grew. Dumbledore knew about this from the very beginning, and he did nothing to stop Snape. "But not the kind of spell you thought it was. He was casting a counter-curse, just like your mother did, Harry. He did it the moment he realized someone was jinxing your broom. He was trying to save you."
Both Harry and Hermione were in shock at the declaration. But Harry recovered more quickly than she did. "But my broomstick became normal again after his cloak caught fire."
"Yes, indeed. Both Professor Snape and your mother didn't succeed in breaking the curse. Only this fire succeeded." The professor looked at Hermione from the corner of his eyes. Hermione knew then that he was aware she had done this. "The fire caused a confusion that led the real caster to lose sight of you, Harry. That's why you got out of there."
"But I saw Snape heading to the third floor at Halloween. And he got bitten by Fluffy then."
"Oh, so you know who Fluffy is. You really impress me, my children. However, the reason why Snape went to the third floor was to prevent anyone from getting past the dog. I'm afraid by doing so, he got injured." Harry seemed about to say something else, but Dumbledore raised a hand peacefully to stop him. "Harry, the reason why Professor Snape has been following you is because he's trying to keep an eye on you. Like all the other professors at Hogwarts. Ever since the accident of Halloween, we're keeping a close eye on you and Hermione. Professor Snape may have been a little overzealous, or too obvious, but he's not the only one who's been following you or watching you from afar. And if he decided to referee the match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, it was to ensure that nothing would happen this time. It's also why I attended the match."
Harry said nothing for a moment. Hermione neither. All this information rumbled in her mind.
"But..." Harry began, "I surprised a conversation between Snape and Quirrell in the Forbidden Forest. Snape was trying to find out how to get past Fluffy."
"You only heard a part of their discussion, I guess." Hermione could see that Harry couldn't deny it. "Well, they both helped to protect the object that this dog is guarding. You must have heard them discussing if someone might succeed to get past it. That's all."
"But Professor..."
"Harry, please. I swear to you, I can assure you that the Professor Severus Snape did not try to kill you at any moment, and that he's not trying to steal the object we're protecting. Look, I don't do that often, but I apologize to you, Harry. I promised your mother to watch over you when you came to Hogwarts, and we failed at the beginning of the year. It's our fault, and I assume the responsibility of this failure, completely. But please, the object is very well protected, and I would like you to not worry about it anymore. Now, you have exams coming and I'm sure the last thing you need is arriving late in class. Now go."
He said that on a very kind tone, but it was clear this was no request, but an order. Harry and Hermione looked at each other, and decided of a common silent agreement to leave. They were silent for most of the morning in class. Things boiled so much in Hermione's mind that she didn't answer the teachers' questions. At lunch, they went to Ron to tell him about what happened. He complained that he had spent an hour writing a good letter with his left hand, but also felt relieved that Hagrid wouldn't be punished. He wasn't healed yet, so he couldn't come with Harry and Hermione in class in the afternoon. Before they left though, he told them that Malfoy had come to see him.
"He threatened to reveal that Hagrid had a dragon. I was afraid, but I guess now that Dumbledore knows and that Norbert will soon be gone, it doesn't matter."
Indeed, it didn't matter. Hermione could focus more on their courses in the afternoon. Harry still seemed distracted, and she tried to make him focus more. In the evening, Harry joined her in the Great Hall for dinner. He had visited Ron once more. Hermione had not wanted to go with him. She was late in her revisions.
"How is Ronald?" she still asked him.
"Getting better. Madam Pomfrey says he'll be out tomorrow. She doesn't seem happy. She said if we had waited a little longer, Ron might have lost his hand."
That was something Hermione wouldn't wish even for Ronald. "Well, all in all, everything ends good. I mean, Norbert is leaving for Romania, where he will be taken care of. Hagrid is not going to lose his job. Ronald is healing. And we are not expelled. We didn't even get detentions or lose any points."
"I know," Harry said absentmindedly.
"Imagine if we had to organize Norbert's departure ourselves," she continued. "For that, we would need to bring the dragon to one of the highest towers of the castle, then give them to Charlie's men who would attach its box to broomsticks with some magical spells or heavy chains. All that in the middle of the night, with the risk of being caught by Filch or any other professor. And this very night, because we really had no time left. Norbert is way too big now. Waiting would make moving him almost impossible."
Hermione heard loud laughs behind her. She turned to see Slytherins probably sharing some distasteful joke. Draco Malfoy had just joined them.
"I don't really want to talk about that Hermione, if you don't mind," Harry told her so low that it was almost a whisper. She barely heard him herself. Harry really didn't look well.
"Are you alright? You might want to go to the infirmary."
"No, I'm fine," he replied.
"It's not time to get ill, Harry. We have important things to do tonight. We have..." Hermione was about to tell him about their revisions that she had planned. It was important for them to resume now that the story with Norbert and Hagrid was behind them. But Harry didn't let her finish.
"I know!"
She didn't push further. Later in the night, they were both in the common room. Harry was studying next to her, but it was obvious he didn't have his mind on their homework. This caused Hermione to not have her own mind set on them. She finally laid down her book on charms and asked him directly.
"Harry, what's wrong with you?"
He sighed. "I shouldn't have told my mother."
She sighed in return. "Look, Harry. In some way, it was the right thing to do. Because of that, she contacted Dumbledore and he arranged everything. Who knows what would have happened otherwise? Maybe we would all be on detention right now."
In retrospective, Hermione had come to think this was for the better. Even though initially she found Harry stupid for telling Mrs Evans everything, it had come to good results in the end, even if it wasn't the solution they were looking for.
"I guess," he said. "I just... didn't think she would run to Dumbledore on the spot."
Hermione could see that Harry was deeply affected by this. Hermione was close to her parents, but she had quickly realized while befriending him that Harry's relationship with his mother was special. She guessed it was normal, considering she was his only parent still alive, and they both survived He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
The name of Lily Jane Evans Potter was famous. She was mentioned in many history works, often just next to Harry's name. However, it didn't bring the same fame. Harry had been the one to truly defeat the Dark Lord. Lily Potter, although she played a significant role in the battle against him, was mostly known by association. And most people didn't even know her maiden name. Harry said that was why his mother used it today, introducing herself as Lily Evans wherever she went.
Hermione had met her a few times already, when she came to see Harry play Quidditch, and also on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters during the holidays. She spoke with Hermione's parents when she came back to school after Christmas. She seemed like a very kind woman. Hermione didn't forget how she reddened when Mrs Evans told her she was the school's most brilliant student. She was also obviously very close to her son. She could understand how Harry could feel betrayed. He didn't write to her with the intention to have her tell everything to his professor. However, Hermione understood why Mrs Evans did this. After all, she was trying to protect her son.
Harry grumbled. "And it's not only that. You remember what Dumbledore told us, about Snape trying to protect me?"
Of course, she remembered. "Yes. Well, I have to admit, it might make sense. Especially if Dumbledore thinks so. Although I would never have thought this of Snape. I mean, he obviously hates you, Harry. It is as if he had something personal against you."
"I know, but it's not only that. The conversation I heard between him and Quirrell... They really didn't sound like people who were afraid someone else might have found out how to get past Fluffy. Snape was pushing Quirrell to know if he had found a way. He was..."
Harry seemed lost in his thoughts for a moment. Then his mouth opened, and he looked at Hermione. There was a strange glow in his eyes. "Hermione, tell me, the day of the match, Snape was in one of the towers. Did Quirrell happen to be in the same tower?"
Hermione thought about this, trying to remember. She did. "Oh, yes. He was with some other teachers. Snape and Quirrell were there, yes. Why?"
Harry looked away. "The day the troll got inside Hogwarts, it was Quirrell who warned everyone of the troll being in the dungeons. And yet, not long after, he was back on his feet after we neutralized the troll. And McGonagall told him to take care of the troll because he was their expert on trolls."
Quickly, Hermione understood what Harry meant. When she started a fire on Snape's cloak, there was general confusion in the tower where he was. Everyone there who would cast a curse on Harry's broomstick would have lost visual contact.
"You think it was Quirrell who tried to kill you?" Hermione asked.
"And who got this troll inside at Halloween. And Snape would have tried to stop him. That would explain the discussion I heard between them. Snape was not forcing Quirrell to help him. He was trying to dissuade him from stealing the Stone."
"Quirrell? Quirrell?" Hermione repeated the name a few times. "That seems so unlikely. I mean, he's afraid of everything, even his own students. Would he be courageous enough to try to steal the Stone?"
"Maybe he's too afraid of Snape. That's why he may not have tried to steal it again since Halloween. But on the other side... Maybe he and Snape are accomplices. That would also make sense from the conversation I heard. Maybe Quirrell got the troll inside at Halloween to give time to Snape to steal the Stone and they failed. And then Snape tried to kill me at the match."
"Harry, whatever this is, we have to tell Professor Dumbledore."
"You think he's going to believe us?" Hermione realized quite quickly he wouldn't, not after everything that happened today and everything he told them. "If Snape is watching Quirrell and he's only protecting the Stone, then Dumbledore must already know about it. And if Quirrell and Snape work together, then I don't think he's going to believe us if we tell him. He seems certain that Snape is protecting me. To be honest, I don't feel like he's protecting me when he's following me just to find reasons to take points from Gryffindor."
"I understand. I don't trust Snape either. But if we can't tell Dumbledore, what are we going to do?" she asked.
Harry looked at her for a long time before he answered. "I don't know."
As we can see, telling your parents everything can have its benefits (especially when we compare to what would have happened without this letter).
Please review.
Next chapter : McGonagall