Chapter 12 - Dragon's Egg
All through the next week Harry and Ron took every opportunity to walk by the forbidden door. As long as Fluffy was still growling inside they knew Quirrell had not made his move yet. Hermione and the other Raven Mavens were also on watch.
One afternoon Harry and Ron were studying in the library when Hagrid shuffled past, hiding something behind his back.
"Jus' lookin'" Hagrid said in a shifty voice that immediately made them suspicious. "See yeh later."
Ron went back to look at the section Hagrid had come from.
"Dragons!" he said. "Hagrid's been looking at books like 'From Egg to Inferno, A Dragon Keepers Guide'."
"Nothing wrong with that," said Harry. "Hagrid's always wanted one."
"But it's illegal to raise dragons," said Ron. "They're really dangerous and they can't be tamed."
They decided to pay Hagrid a visit right away. Hagrid was tending a blazing fire, and in it was a large black egg.
"Hagrid, where did you get that?" asked Ron.
"I won it last night in the village, in a game 'o cards with a stranger."
Harry was instantly alert because he knew about Quirrell's ability to put on an act.
"What did the stranger look like?" Harry asked.
"Dunno," said Hagrid. "He wouldn't take his hood off."
"Didn't that seem strange to you?" asked Ron.
"Naah, yeh get a lot of dicey characters in that pub. Mebbe he was a dragon dealer. He said he was glad teh have the egg go to someone who knew his way 'round dangerous animals."
"How did he know you work with animals?" said Harry.
"I told him about my work as gamekeeper here. I said to him, after takin' care o' Fluffy, a dragon would be a cinch."
"Was he interested in Fluffy?" Harry asked evenly.
"Yeah, three-headed dogs are rare. So I told him, yeh just have to know how to handle 'em. Yeh jus' play him a bit 'o music and he goes straight off ter sleep -- I shouldn't oughta said that."
On the way back, Harry said, "We've got to warn Professor Dumbledore right away. There's nothing stopping Quirrell from going for the Stone!"
It wasn't easy to find Professor Dumbledore's office. Finally they had to ask Professor McGonnagal.
"Professor Dumbledore received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic. He left ten minutes ago," she said.
"But it's important!" Ron said.
"More important than the Ministry of Magic? I hardly think so."
"The Philosopher's Stone is about to be stolen by Qu-, by someone," said Harry.
"You shouldn't have known about it, but rest assured the Stone is safe. Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow. You can speak with him then, and also explain to him how it is that you know about a Hogwarts secret." McGonnagal walked briskly away.
Harry and Ron continued discussing what to do that night at dinner in half-whispers.
"I bet Quirrell faked that message and he'll go after the Stone tonight! We know what he wants it for -- to bring Voldemort back to life."
Ron jumped. "Will you stop saying that!?"
"I'm going in there and getting the Stone before he does," said Harry.
"That's crazy," said Ron. "If you're caught you'll be expelled."
"So WHAT!" said Harry, raising his voice. "If Voldemort comes back, there'll only be a pile of rubble to be expelled from. Not to mention he'll kill me like he killed my parents. I've got to go in there."
"Then I'm going with you," said Ron.
"Pardon me," said Hermione, who had come over from the Ravenclaw table. "I couldn't help overhearing..."
"MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS," said Harry and Ron together.
Hermione went back to her table and told her friends what she had heard.
"What are we going to do?" said Alice.
"The teachers don't take the threat seriously," said Hermione. "We've got to go there tonight and catch Quirrell in the act. We can also head off Harry and Ron before they go in and get themselves killed by the traps or by Quirrell."
"What if we're caught?" said Lisa. "We could get expelled."
"Not for a first offense," said Mandy.
"They won't expel us. Our grades are too good," said Hermione.
All through the next week Harry and Ron took every opportunity to walk by the forbidden door. As long as Fluffy was still growling inside they knew Quirrell had not made his move yet. Hermione and the other Raven Mavens were also on watch.
One afternoon Harry and Ron were studying in the library when Hagrid shuffled past, hiding something behind his back.
"Jus' lookin'" Hagrid said in a shifty voice that immediately made them suspicious. "See yeh later."
Ron went back to look at the section Hagrid had come from.
"Dragons!" he said. "Hagrid's been looking at books like 'From Egg to Inferno, A Dragon Keepers Guide'."
"Nothing wrong with that," said Harry. "Hagrid's always wanted one."
"But it's illegal to raise dragons," said Ron. "They're really dangerous and they can't be tamed."
They decided to pay Hagrid a visit right away. Hagrid was tending a blazing fire, and in it was a large black egg.
"Hagrid, where did you get that?" asked Ron.
"I won it last night in the village, in a game 'o cards with a stranger."
Harry was instantly alert because he knew about Quirrell's ability to put on an act.
"What did the stranger look like?" Harry asked.
"Dunno," said Hagrid. "He wouldn't take his hood off."
"Didn't that seem strange to you?" asked Ron.
"Naah, yeh get a lot of dicey characters in that pub. Mebbe he was a dragon dealer. He said he was glad teh have the egg go to someone who knew his way 'round dangerous animals."
"How did he know you work with animals?" said Harry.
"I told him about my work as gamekeeper here. I said to him, after takin' care o' Fluffy, a dragon would be a cinch."
"Was he interested in Fluffy?" Harry asked evenly.
"Yeah, three-headed dogs are rare. So I told him, yeh just have to know how to handle 'em. Yeh jus' play him a bit 'o music and he goes straight off ter sleep -- I shouldn't oughta said that."
On the way back, Harry said, "We've got to warn Professor Dumbledore right away. There's nothing stopping Quirrell from going for the Stone!"
It wasn't easy to find Professor Dumbledore's office. Finally they had to ask Professor McGonnagal.
"Professor Dumbledore received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic. He left ten minutes ago," she said.
"But it's important!" Ron said.
"More important than the Ministry of Magic? I hardly think so."
"The Philosopher's Stone is about to be stolen by Qu-, by someone," said Harry.
"You shouldn't have known about it, but rest assured the Stone is safe. Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow. You can speak with him then, and also explain to him how it is that you know about a Hogwarts secret." McGonnagal walked briskly away.
Harry and Ron continued discussing what to do that night at dinner in half-whispers.
"I bet Quirrell faked that message and he'll go after the Stone tonight! We know what he wants it for -- to bring Voldemort back to life."
Ron jumped. "Will you stop saying that!?"
"I'm going in there and getting the Stone before he does," said Harry.
"That's crazy," said Ron. "If you're caught you'll be expelled."
"So WHAT!" said Harry, raising his voice. "If Voldemort comes back, there'll only be a pile of rubble to be expelled from. Not to mention he'll kill me like he killed my parents. I've got to go in there."
"Then I'm going with you," said Ron.
"Pardon me," said Hermione, who had come over from the Ravenclaw table. "I couldn't help overhearing..."
"MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS," said Harry and Ron together.
Hermione went back to her table and told her friends what she had heard.
"What are we going to do?" said Alice.
"The teachers don't take the threat seriously," said Hermione. "We've got to go there tonight and catch Quirrell in the act. We can also head off Harry and Ron before they go in and get themselves killed by the traps or by Quirrell."
"What if we're caught?" said Lisa. "We could get expelled."
"Not for a first offense," said Mandy.
"They won't expel us. Our grades are too good," said Hermione.
