It wasn't long until Hermione went into full study mode. Even with Easter fast approaching, she refused to let any of them off the hook and insisted on study sessions. This, however, didn't bother Harry who was thriving in the fame of being a Quidditch star. Even in the most quiet parts of the library, he couldn't escape the claps on the back and people reliving the game for him.
"Harry, honestly," Hermione barked. "You have to focus on your school work."
"Hermione, honestly, you need a life," Harry said.
"Harry!" Neville and Ron said at the same time.
"No, it's fine," Hermione said snatching up her books. "I just won't help him anymore."
"I said we shouldn't study with any of them," Draco mumbled moving away from the rest of group.
"Why?" Neville asked.
"Because there are more important things to worry about than exams," Draco said with a sniff.
"Like what?" Ron asked as he and Harry left the raging Hermione alone.
"Like Hagrid's looking up stuff about dragons." Draco said, flipping the books back and forth. "I know Hagrid is slightly deranged, but dragons?"
"Do you think that's what could also be hiding the stone?" Ron asked, looking over Draco's shoulder.
"Only one way to find out," Harry said, closing his books with a smug look on his face.
"Ron, owl Charlie about these dragon eggs and if he can get it out of here before Hagrid does something ridiculous," Hermione instructed, joining the group. "Neville, Harry, Draco and I will go to Hagrid's and make sure this isn't what we think it is."
"It's just a dragon," Draco said, closing the book and putting it back on the shelf. "How bad can a dragon be?"
"It depends," Harry said folding his arms. "It might get in the way."
"Stop it, both of you," Hermione said, pushing Draco away from Harry. "This is nonsensical. Let's go."
By the time they had reached Hagrid's hut, it was nearly dark when they banged on the door. "Do you think we should have brought the invisibility cloak?" Neville whispered when Hagrid finally opened the door.
"Please tell me that you were only doing research in the library," Harry said walking into the hut and sitting in an oversized chair.
Hagrid gave them a look of confusion.
"Dragons," Draco clarified, leaning against the now closed door.
"Hon'st, I was only lookin'" Hagrid said, pouring them all a cup of tea.
"Then why are you acting so suspicious?" Hermione inquired. "You opened the door looking around, you left the library in a fast manner-"
"You don't have to over analyze everything," Harry said, rolling his eyes.
"And you don't have to be a prat, but here we are," Draco shrugged.
Harry glared.
"A dragon is not a creature that needs to be here at Hogwarts. Why do you have it?"
"Well, I don't ner what yer talkin' about," Hagrid protested.
"Then what's over the stove?" Neville said, pointing it out.
They all rushed to the fire, looking at the egg in the flames.
"Are you out of your mind?" Harry asked.
"Are you going to use this to help guard the stone?" Neville asked.
"How do yer know 'bout the stone?" Hagrid asked.
"We're us," Harry scoffed.
"I got this little feller from a guy down at the village. He was very interested in Fluffy."
"Fluffy?" They all asked.
"My dog."
"Wait, you named that thing 'Fluffy'?" Hermione asked.
"Yes." He continued. "He knew that I had a likin' for dragons. I've always bin wantin' a dragon and he had one on em."
"What did he want in return?" Draco asked, leaning against the chair.
"To know 'bout Fluffy."
"What about-shite," Harry said, pretening to hide behind a chair. "Minnie is coming. How did she know?"
"A lucky guess." Mcgonagall said, her arms folded. "Follow me."
It didn't take long for the word to spread the news that the three Gryffindors had lost their house 150 points. Now, instead of walking the halls with his head held high, Harry was avoiding everyone and the negative attention he was getting. By the time for their detention, Neville, Hermione, and Draco were more than ready to avoid the castle and the many disappointed classmates.
When Filch escorted the group down to Hagrid's hunt for detention, their hopes were high, hoping for an easy detention. "Now, remember, this is a punishment." Filch growled. "Not a play date. I believe that's what got you in trouble."
"Yes sir." They said. Filch left them, eyeing Hagrid until he went into his hut and grabbed lanterns for them, before leading them into the Forbidden Forest
"Look there,'" said Hagrid, "see that stuff shinin' on the ground? Silvery stuff? That's unicorn blood. There's a unicorn in there bin hurt badly by summat. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We're gonna try an' find the poor thing. We might have ter put it out of its misery."
"And what if whatever hurt the unicorn finds us first?" Draco said, attempting to hide his fear in his voice.
"There's nothin' that lives in the Forest that'll hurt yeh with me or Fang. An' keep ter the path. Right now, we're gonna split up inter two parties an' follow the trail in diff'rent directions. There's blood all over the place, it must've bin staggerin' around since last night at least."
"Fine," Malfoy said crossing his arms. "I'll take Fang."
"All right, but I warn yeh, he's a coward."
"I'll go with you," Harry smiled, taking a lantern from Hagrid. "Afterall, there's nothing to be afraid of. Right Draco?"
"Right," Draco said with a stern nod of his head.
"Three hours!" Harry whined. "Three hours and nothing but a ton of random blood patches."
"We could just go back to the castle. This detention is a bust, " Draco said, turning in the other direction.
"No way. If we can find this Unicorn sucking beast, then everyone will forget about us losing all of the house points. I'll be famous and awesome again."
"Fame is fleeting," Draco smirked. "See, in Slytherin, it doesn't matter how many points I lose for my house. I still am a Malfoy and my step-father is the head of the house. I tend not to worry about my fame leaving."
"I'm the one who killed Voldemort," Harry retorted. "This is only a small blimp in the minds of the people who love me."
"And how can you be sure everyone loves you?" Draco shrugged. "I would hate for your head to get any bigger."
"Do you have something you want to say, Malfoy? Because if you do, I suggest you spit it out."
Draco opened his mouth to speak but the sharp crying noise broke them from their pissing match. The cry came again, and both boys broke into a run, following the noise as it came.
When they finally stopped running, they saw it. A hooded figure with its face on the neck of the pure white unicorn.
"Holy shite," Harry whispered.
"I think that's an understatement." Draco responded as Fang ran in the other direction.
"What is that thing?" Harry asked, slowly stepping away from the hooded figure.
"Nothing I want to meet face to face," Draco added.
One of the two, however, stepped on a branch. The hooded figure snapped its head in their direction. They both were paralyzed with fear. It was then a creature came out of the trees and attacked the hooded figure, forcing it out of their sight.
"What was that-that thing!" Draco asked, his eyes still wide with fear.
"What are you?" Harry asked the the half man, half human.
"He is a centaur, don't you listen at all!" Draco groaned.
"My name is Firenze, and it is not safe for you to be out here, Harry Potter." The centaur stated. "Follow me."
"Good to know I'm safe then," Draco scoffed.
"Who would want to hurt me?" Harry asked proudly, following the two.
"Can you think of no one who is that desperate for life? Drinking a unicorn's blood will keep anything alive, even if it is on the brink of death. But it will live a half life, a cursed life."
"Voldemort," Harry whispered.
"Voldemort's dead," Draco pointed out.
"Are you so sure?" Firenze questioned. "Do you know what is in Hogwarts at this very moment?"
"The stone!" They said at once.
"If Voldemort had the stone-" Draco started.
"He could live forever." Harry finished. "But how can he get to it if he can't even live on his own?"
"With someone's help," Draco whispered as they reached Hagrid, Hermione and Neville. Harry started to speak but Draco stopped him, putting his hand on his friend's arm. "Later. We don't know who is helping him right now. Besides, if Hagrid knew, then he could tip off Dumbledore, and we would have no way to help. Or get to the stone before Voldemort can."
"Later it is then," Harry agreed.
"Hagrid, I know you want to keep Norbert, but this isn't the environment for him," Charlie Weasley wheedled. "'Sides, he'll be in Romania with me and a bunch other dragons. C'mon, don't you trust me?"
Minerva had called Charlie Weasley back from Romania just to deal with this situation. If Hagrid gave Norbert up willingly, the Dragon Reserve was willing to overlook the illegalities of his actions. First, they had to get him to let go of Norbert.
"I don' wanna! Look, he knows his mum!" Hagrid wailed, giant teardrops dripping off his nose. Fang looked rather like he wanted the interloper out.
"Hagrid, look, don't tell Aunt Minnie, but you are my favorite person at Hogwarts. Hell, you're my favorite period. So, as a friend, I'm telling you: You live in a bloody wooden house!" Charlie shouted.
That took Hagrid off guard. Of all the things he'd done to prepare for his dragon, fireproofing spells were not one of them.
"You don't want your house to accidentally catch fire and leave you, Fang, and Norbert homeless, do ya?" Charlie asked in the same tone he used to use to get baby Ginny to calm down so their mum didn't yell.
"Well, that would be bad," Hagrid said, beginning to see sense. "And it's a might harder than I was expectin'."
"Dragons usually are. That's why we take 'em to Romania. Lots of room in the reserve for a baby dragon to grow into a big, strappin' dragon a mum can be proud of, yeah?" Charlie soothed his mentor.
"Fine, but do it quick. I'm liable ter change me mind 'fore then," Hagrid said, looking away as if Charlie were going to kill Norbert, not pack him up with a teddy and fly him to a new home.
"I will. I promise," Charlie said with a smile, finally repaying Hagrid for all the trouble he helped him get out of in school.
Charlie packed up Norbert in a wooden crate he'd placed a fireproofing spell on. In went some meat, water, and the teddy Hagrid insisted on. It did help to calm the dragon, so Charlie didn't argue.
"Say, Hagrid," Charlie started just before he left. "What's this little Ronnie tells me about you locking Fluff up in Hogwarts. I thought you love the poor bloke?"
"Fluffy's doin' importan' work fer Dumbledore," Hagrid said, readjusting himself as if ruffling his feathers.
"And he still falls asleep for that lyre? Who's been playing for him if nights?" Charlie asked.
"That's none of yer bizness," Hagrid replied.
"Ah, so Dumbles won't let you, will he? Shame, poor beastie locked away, and you don't even visit," Charlie said, heaving a great sigh. "Ah well, I'd best be off. Meetin' some of the crew on the roof so's we can fly Norbert ta his new home. See ya, Hag."
"Bye… Charlie…" Hagrid said pensively. After a few minutes thought, he grabbed his lyre and took off for the school.
Charlie Weasley was acutely aware that, in the grand scheme of things, Ronnie had never asked him for anything. Even Ginny had snuggled into his bed on occasion during a particularly nasty storm. Ronnie, however, always went to Fred, George, or Percy (if he was feeling desperate) for help. There were only two occasions when Bill and Charlie had interfered with the youngest of their brothers: The Spider and The Unbreakable Vow.
So, when Ronnie wrote and asked how to get past a three headed dog, he knew something was up. After his conversation with Hagrid, his fears were confirmed. He grew up with Sirius, Remus, Minerva, and even his own parents spouting their distrust of Dumbledore. He just assumed that the old man would never be crazy enough to keep a dangerous stone tucked so close to students. Children. His baby brothers.
Charlie knew exactly what would happen if he told Ronnie how to put Fluffy to sleep. Still, Ronnie didn't ask him for help, ever. So he did what any good, older brother would do; he hid Ronnie under Harry's nifty invisibility cloak and let him hear the whole conversation with Hagrid.
After Charlie and Hagrid left the gamekeeper's hut, Ron snuck back to the castle and up to the Gryffindor common room. Harry and Neville had waited up for him, not able to sleep without knowing what Charlie had told him. Hermione had long since retired, saying that her curiosity- while high- was also satiable and she wasn't going to miss out on one night of sleep when they would be over analyzing it in the morning.
Kat: WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, MY FRIEND!
Gabs: GONE IS THE LOSER CUZ WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS….. OF THE WORLD! In related news, we won the football game. And that's all that matters.
Kat: Pretty much! So, after a lot of talking, the next chapter will be the last of the first book, whatever you would like to call it. In case you hadn't figured it out yet, we're Americans.
Gabs: Therefore football means the egg thing, not the soccer. It also means that sometime we say things like 'sorcerer' instead of 'philosopher,' it happens.
Kat: Yes, yes it does. As always, we own nothing. Anything you notice doesn't belong to us. At all. Or else this wouldn't be fanfiction.
Gabs: Reviews are appreciated. We love them, they give us something to talk about. After this long, we need new material. Thanks for all the support and to those who do review! We love it!
XOXO
Gabs and Kat
