"How are we going to even smuggle a dragon out?" Ron asked while rubbing the knots out of his shoulders. He'd done most of the picking up around the cabin after Hermione frowned at him for trying to leave without helping. What a lovable pushover. As they sat outside mulling over their predicament and enjoying the growing warmth as the snow melted away, Hermione paced a few feet away with a hand to her chin and a constant mumble creating a surprisingly soothing backdrop. If she was putting this much thought into it, they would find a way.
"I don't know yet, but it'd have to be at night," she answered distractedly. "No one can see Norbert."
"Well, what if we used the cloak?" Harry pipes up from his spot sunbathing on Ron's other side. He looked so unconcerned it was actually a little annoying.
"That could work," Greyson confirmed, his stern glance toward his brother going unseen. He sighed. "Ron, has Charlie written back yet?"
"Not yet," Ron frowned, shaking his head.
Greyson nodded, thinking hard for a few more moments and coming up with nothing they hadn't already thrown around, and then laid back as well. If you couldn't beat 'em, join 'em. Maybe Harry was on to something because a realization came to him. "We could meet him in the Astrology tower on a Saturday. Professor Sinistra doesn't hold classes then. When he does write back, if he can take Norbert, ask him if he could come on a Saturday."
"Alright," Ron hummed, joining them in their lounging as well.
"And you three can meet me in the Great Hall," Greyson added. "We can head to Hagrid's hut together." Three voices rose in confirmation, and his chest felt full in a weird way that made him want to doze off rather than confront the feeling. He allowed his eyes to close slowly while Hermione settled down on his side opposite Ron. He trusted they'd wake him when it was time to go.
A few days after their conversation, Ron got everything arranged with his brother to gather up Norbert. Greyson found himself joining in their high five before he'd even realized it. As he watched them smile and laugh in relief, he found himself joining in that too.
Greyson hid in the shadows of the hallway with Hermione waiting for Harry and Ron. They had decided to divide and conquer so they didn't all seem suspicious sneaking around as a group, but the anxiety of being caught and failing Hagrid was making it hard to think it a wise decision now. He pressed in closer to the wall as footsteps starting to echo in the hall, desperately wanting it to be his brother instead of Filch and his cat. The figure stopped before they were identifiable from his lookout, and he tensed as his prepared excuse shot to the tip of his tongue. He nearly sagged in relief when he heard Harry whisper, "Greyson. Hermione. Get under the cloak with me so we can go see Hagrid." He lifted the cloak to allow them to move under with him .
"Where's Ron?" Greyson asked, noticing the lack of Harry's gangly red headed shadow.
"He's resting in the tower," Harry explained with a frown that radiated worry. "Norbert gave him a nasty bite." Greyson found himself frowning as well but nodded, making a note to check on Ron in the morning. There was no telling if Ron could have caught some disease from Norbert and if he had to carry him to the nurse tomorrow he would.
They made their way towards Hagrid's hut slowly, hunched over and avoiding elbows to the side rather unsuccessfully in Greyson's case. This was going to be even more difficult with Norbert under the cloak as well... "Maybe I should follow behind," Greyson hedged. He seriously doubted all of them fitting under the cloak with Norbert.
"But Filch could catch you," Harry protested.
"I'll be fine," Greyson told them. "You three need it more than me."
"If you're sure," Hermione said hesitantly, but he could tell she had been contemplating the same issue as him because she looked pretty relieved as well.
"I am," he confirmed in a tone that brooked no more discussion about it.
He helped them get Norbert settled between Harry and Hermione and Greyson set out to scout the way ahead. He was much better dressed for an overnight covert mission since he had been smart and tried to cover any possibility, including something happening to the cloak. He couldn't say the same of Hermione and Harry, who hadn't bothered to change out of their maroon and gold sweaters. That arrogance could get them or the Gryffindor house easily recognized should anything go wrong, and Greyson made a mental note to bring it up to them later.
He blinked when a familiar shock of silvery blond hair caught his eye and quickly disappeared around the corner. "Draco," he hissed as he quickly approached the blond, and graciously ignored his irritated scowl at being discovered snooping. "What are you doing here?"
"Your brother, Weasley, and that Granger girl are planning some sort of dragon thing," Draco accused, shoving his nose in the air. "I overheard them in the Great Hall. Honestly, they are horrid at being secretive. And I know you like to wander around at night when it comes to him." Was Greyson's behavior really that obvious? He'd have to reevaluate some things. Though it did strike him as funny that Draco claimed Harry and his friends were obvious, when Draco went around bragging about secretly giving Greyson his presents. Better not mention that part. Time to cover for Harry, just like old times.
"I promise I'll explain, but go back to the common room for now, please," he hissed. Draco merely crossed his arms defiantly and Greyson couldn't contain his exasperated huff as he grabbed Draco's sleeve and started tugging him back towards the commons. "I swear, you can be such a pain sometimes for someone so smart."
Draco was so silent on their way back to the dungeons Greyson was about to ask if he was okay when he finally spoke up. "I am not," he pouted. Were his cheeks a little pink? Perhaps he wasn't feeling well. "Besides, you shouldn't be out either. Filch could catch you and that wouldn't bode well for our house."
"I've been keeping tabs on Filch's patterns the past week. I'll be fine," Greyson retorted, not worried a bit. There had been some close calls the first few days but since then he had noticed some patterns and had a plan and a few backup just in case.
"You're a Slytherin. I need to make sure you'll be fine. I don't want our house losing points because you're sneaking around with those Gryffindors," Draco argued.
Greyson opened his mouth to reply just as he ran into a warm and grungy bag of bones a hallway away from the dungeon entrance. He should have spent a few more days making sure of the patrol routes. "My, my, now what do we have here?" Filch's nasally voice always made a chill run up his spine. "Looks like a couple of first years."
He shook off his momentary surprise before his emergency plan (that he now needed to add Draco to!) quickly rushed back to him and he spit out, "I wasn't feeling well so... D-Draco wanted to help me to the nurse. I told him I'm okay so we were heading back to bed to be good, rule-abiding students."
"...Right," Draco quickly followed with, after just a second's hesitation. Greyson could hug him.
"Well, we'll see what McGonagall has to say about that," Filch sneered, the corners of his pallid face upturned and revealing hints of yellowing teeth. Greyson bit back a disgusted groan and hoped that with them distracting Filch that Harry and Hermione would be able to handle Norbert without any hiccups.
They made the walk to McGonagall's office and Greyson just felt the stone in the bottom of his stomach grow. "Professor!" Filch called out gleefully, "Got a couple of first years out of bed."
McGonagall looked up from her desk and the only tell of surprise on her face was the quick raising of her eyebrows before smoothing out to her normal stern look. "Malfoy, Potter," she greeted coolly. "What are you boys doing out of bed?"
"I was having trouble sleeping because I wasn't feeling well, Professor," Greyson murmured. He tried to push back the guilt churning in his chest. Lying to McGonagall felt wrong. He saw her lips tighten in concern, her normally hard to read face relaxing some. The guilt was crawling up his throat and settling there, and it took all his focus to keep his face calm.
"And I was following him to help him to the nurse. The last thing we need is him passing out in the hallways," Draco started, only to be silenced by Professor McGonnagal holding up a wrinkled and dainty hand that still commanded obedience.
"Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy, there is no excuse for you two to be wandering the halls without having told your house prefect," she reprimanded. "Especially if you are not feeling well, Mr. Potter. Students are not to be going anywhere without someone of a higher rank knowing. It is a safety procedure that you should both know by now. If something had happened to you two, no one would have known where you had gone or where to look for you both. This is a warning. Since you're not feeling well, I won't wake Professor Snape to deal a harsher punishment. Take care in the future."
"Yes, professor. I apologize," Greyson made sure to bow perfectly, relief soothing some of the guilt. They both turned to leave… just as Filch came back in the room with Harry and Hermione.
"More students, and from my own house," Professor McGonagall sighed in disbelief, looking at them. "Now what were you two doing out of bed?" Harry and Hermione didn't speak up and were quite unsure of what to say. Greyson didn't miss Draco's smirk at them getting in trouble.
"We were out," Harry started.
"I know that, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall said. "But what I want to know is why you and Ms. Granger were wandering the halls?" Neither Hermione or Harry spoke up this time either, just staring at each other miserably. What had happened to the cloak? Had Filch taken it? Dammit, he had told them to make up excuses for if they were caught. Did they pay attention at all when he talked? "Fine, you can each lose 50 points."
"Fifty?" Harry repeated, distressed. "Professor-"
"Well, then why don't you tell me why all four of you were out of your beds at this hour, and Mr. Greyson, don't tell me you weren't feeling well unless you say it with total honesty," Professor McGonagall spoke shortly.
"Well, you see, professor..." Harry started, trying to come up with something. All Greyson wanted to do was slam his hand into his forehead about fifty times. They were good. They were in the clear. McGonagall was going to let them slide for being out of bed with minimal punishments. "We were in the Astrology tower... and..."
"And what?" she asked, patience obviously wearing thin over this whole charade. His brother's mouth opened and closed a few times and Greyson could swear the expression on McGonagall's face was starting to chill the room. "Detention. All of you have detention. I will let you know when and where after class. Now, go to bed." All their shoulders fell in unison and Filch's chuckle only made it worse. Hopefully this hadn't made McGonagall too upset with him. He would fix this. He'd lost some of her trust, but she was one of the few people he liked that actually liked him back. He wasn't ready to lose that yet, so… He'd fix it... somehow...