The year was rather silent, nothing really happened and I was at hogsmeade. "Butter beer wasn't what I expected." She gave me a confused look. "You don't go to Diagon Alley?" I shrugged. "I only go there when I need something for potions, otherwise the shopkeepers sniff the money from me and start bringing out the advertising." She laughed and so did I. "Old money huh? my yea my great grandpa was a prince, he would always throw his mommy around. Spoiled me rotten for sure." I chuckled and said something that I wouldn't have said in the open. "Who wouldn't spoil such a pretty girl." her cheeks took on the shade of strawberries.

"How are your electives going?" She stuttered, again my inexperience made me blind to this until later. "Enjoyable, I wish we had care of magical beasts with Hagrid." She questioned me and I answered. "I spent half a semester with him and his really good at it, Silvanus Kettleburn is a great teacher but I'm always worried something might rip his last arm off." She nodded. "Yea, but he is a really good teacher better then divination." I smirked, that class was truly pointless. "I'm thinking about doing arithmancy instead." I finished taking a gulp from my butterbeer. "That's the same thing only with numbers." She gave an annoyed sigh. "Muggle studies?" I shrugged. "Or you can just say random insanity's and say you predict the quidditch world cup will get attacked or a Weasley will turn on their brother." She laughed. "Yea and my hair will explode."

Then our meal came and we forgot about divination for a brief moment. The subject changed to a professor, "Has professor Snape been rather volatile lately?" I nodded, and I didn't want to tell the full story. "I think it has something to do with harry potter, I mean compared to last year, he's like a Hungarian horntail." I nodded, I mean every Friday training is a nightmare, Friday was bringing an extra robe to change. We finished our meal, I paid and left an extra tip.

Halloween dinner I sat with Draco, just eating dinner "who's that girl you went out with last week?" I looked at him with no ounce of emotions. "A half blood girl I fancy and don't spoil anything to uncle Lucius." I used a sleight of hand to make it look like I made a galleon appear from his ear. "Understood?" I asked with a smile and he took the coin.

Then the most useless idiot professor in the year came running screaming about a troll and I for one wasn't interested in meeting the troll, but seeing Harry leave the Gryffindors I snuck after them and caught the two. "What are you doing?" Ron gulped and Harry spoke up. "Hermoine is in the dungeon's bathroom." I got the map out and saw she was still there. "Let's get there before the troll does." They nodded and followed me, I heard footsteps after pushing the boys behind a gargoyle, and I changed instantly to the arithmancy professor and "Professor Vector, What are you doing here?" I cleared my voice. "Heading to my office professor Snape." I smiled, Snape sneered. "Mr. Black, please don't change into other professors." I turned back to my normal form.

"Now come with me, it is better that you know." I followed as asked and we started speaking. "Has any of Malfoys associates spoken about the dark lord?" I shook my head. "Do you have any information?" I gulped. "Uncle and his associates have been speaking about their wish to cause some issues in Hogwarts and others about attempting to revive him." Professor Snape nodded. "How are they planning to do this?" I sighed. "No idea, none of them have enough brain cells to do so." Snape and I walked to the third floor. "How would you attempt it?"

I looked surprised and thought about it, then said. "I wouldn't, I'm not desperate to do something that Insane." He stepped in front of me as he opened the door and I saw a Cerberus barking at the door. "Who did- Hagrid?" Snape nodded, locking the door. "Ofcourse it was him, no one else would survive keeping one of them." I nodded and waited for the reason for this exercise. "You're to keep an eye on Quirrell. Not even his dump enough to let a mountain troll free." I nodded understanding partially. "Professor how did you know it was me?" He looked into my eyes. "You should think about getting into character first before taking to the role, especially since professor vector has never smiled on these grounds." I nodded at him. "Return to the common room," I sneaked my way back to the Slytherin's common room without anyone noticing.

Later during the month

I was assisting Professor Snape, taking the form of Filch. Professor Snape was holding his robes above his knees One of his legs "Blasted thing," Professor Snape was saying. "How are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?" I shrugged as I bandaged him.

The door started moving and professor Snape yelled if his wound had salt poured into it. "POTTER!" His face was twisted with fury as he dropped his robes quickly to hide his leg. I turned to see a terrified Harry.

"I just wondered if I could have my book back." He requested as professor Snape yelled. Professor Snape demanded with a fury "GET OUT! OUT!"

Harry left, before Snape could take any more points from Gryffindor. "He should know that all confiscated books are given to the library." I said remembering the times I had made the same mistake. Professor Snape glared at me. "That git deserved it." Snape sighed. "Well done getting into character." I nodded and left the room.

Quidditch was as annoying as usual, I mainly came to bet with or to support the twins. Then something odd happened, the potter's broom started shaking trying to throw him off, like a wild stallion. I started looking for the culprit and I saw the scaredy-cat Quirrell staring at Harry with complete calmness. I looked around for the bludger trying it to jinx to kill Quirrell however George beat it into a Slytherin chaser, but suddenly professor Snape jumped his robes on fire and shoved Quirrell causing him to lose his concentration and the game continued, with a Gryffindor win and a loss of 20 galleon. "I need to stop betting with you two."

They celebrated their winnings while I went to professor Snape. "I attempted to terminate the issue sir but-" He silenced me. "I know , it was a well placed jinx, yet it was too open and placing it on a bludger was rather risky." I nodded gulping at the small critic. "Return to your studies, I have a few fools in detention today. So you can spend your time with that Ravenclaw girl." He left while I sighed and turned seeing messy hair run away from a corner, I simply went to the library.

Christmas came and I was helping Hagrid with getting a Fir tree through the dungeon, though most I did was making sure he didn't hit anything. "Christmas the one time of year I don't have to worry about the prefects." Hagrid laughed. "They wouldn't be putting yeh in detention if yeh stopped hazing 'em yeh know" I chuckled. "If I do, their heads start swelling up and I rather they don't get too annoying."

When we reached the end of Potions class, the students poured out and saw the first years I hid next to Hagrid.

"Hi, Hagrid, want any help?"

Hagrid said "Nah, I'm all right, thanks, Rond all ready have one. "

"Would you mind moving out of the way?" Malfoy's cold drawl came and I kept a sigh from escaping . "Are you trying to earn some extra money, Weasley? Hoping to be a gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts, I suppose - that hut of Hagrid's must seem like a palace compared to what your family's used to."

Ron dived at Malfoy but I jumped between them. "No need to fight like muggles, isn't that right?" I said to both boys, but then came a furious tone.

"WEASLEY!" Professor Snape and I sigh as I saw that Ron the boy had been Holding my robe, he let go but the damage was done.

"He was provoked, Professor Snape," said Hagrid, sticking his huge hairy face out from behind the tree. "Malfoy was insultin' his family. Cepheus jumped in before it could get ugly." Professor Snape gave me a single look.

"Good to see some people keeping order, 5 points to Slytherin, 5 points from Gryffindor. Off with you now." He left Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle pushed roughly past the tree, scattering needles everywhere and smirking.

"I'll get him," said Ron, grinding his teeth at Malfoy's back, "one of these days, I'll get him-"

"I hate them both," said Harry, "Malfoy and Snape."

I let out a sigh. "Sorry for my cousin, at least but it's Christmas! I get the dorms to myself while everyone is gone." Harry gave me an odd confused look.

"Come on, cheer up, it's nearly Christmas," said Hagrid. "Tell yeh what, come with me an' see the Great Hall, looks a treat. "

We headed to the Great Hall, where Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were busy with the Christmas decorations. "Ah, Hagrid, the last tree - put it in the far corner, would you?" Professor McGonagall requested I sat with the Slytherins and none cared about my presence much.

At the end of Lunch Ivy, pulled me to the library. "So what are you going to do for Christmas?" I shrugged, there was nothing special that didn't celebrate Christmas much, most was getting sweets from my aunt. "Celebrate my grandfather not demanding to throw a log into the fire." She pouted and gave her a peck on the check. "Got your Christmas gift early." I left and she didn't follow and shrugged it off.

When morning came I woke for once no need of the facial cream nor hiding my my scars, I trained my animagus form and found that I could alter some aspects of the the form, simply said I was able to change what species of corvid I could be, this meant one good thing, no worries about the ministry finding in my corvid form!

When breakfast came, I sat in the great hall early the only gifts I got were chocolate frogs and a book on alchemy. There came Fred and George, I snicker at them. "Oh Christmas fashion again? Let's see The twins in blue! What's wrong with not going home this year?" I joked throwing a chocolate frog at fred. "Yea, *sniff* how can you stand not being home on Christmas?" George spoke dramatically, I gave a dead paned delivery. "Ma gramp's in the ground, I wouldn't shovel up snow for the git, much less dirt."

We all laughed at the joke. "Does your sweater get uglier every year or am I losing it, no offense." Fred answered with a smile. "None taken, but yea you should look at Harry's." I turned to him and turned back. "Meh, he's the boy who lived. Better go the extra mile before some journalist starts digging up dirt. Hey Percy, don't use the bathroom today." He looked terrified and so did the other prefect tables. The twins gave me a look that demanded expansion on what I had done. I whispered to them. "I did nothing, now they're just paranoid." Fred and George Burst out in laughter while the prefects still in the castle looked terrified.

Walking through the empty halls it felt odd but relaxing. Through the labyrinth I stare at a weird mirror, odd as I got closer and saw myself head master with multiple honors and Ivy brought me and then I looked away, as my wand shot an incendio at the ground. "What is it furor?" I looked around and then saw the inscription on the mirror. "So a mental prison?" I heard footsteps and turned into my crow from mastering it somewhat and stood in the mirror. Harry stared at it, both with joy and a hint of melancholy, I flew out of the labyrinth and sighed, if one wasn't careful that blasted mirror could get addictive.

One evening before the end of winter break, I heard harry and Talking about how Hermione would be back. Then there was a mention of a name and I jumped at them. "You're talking alchemy?" I asked with a smile. Ron spoke out loudly, expected of a Weasley. "What? No." I looked surprised. "But you mentioned, Nicolaus Flamel. The famous alchemist." Harry and Ron looked surprised. "What else do you know? What is he famous for?" Harry jumped very forward. "Hmm, His most recognized achievement is the Philosopher's stone." Harry and Ron looked at each other about to cheer. "However, some scholars argue about his Philosophers stone and that it's imperfect." Ron looked confused. "What why? How can a stone be imperfect?"

I explained. "Well in theory the philosopher's stone will give you Immortality, a cure to all diseases, and a universal solvent. But it's more well known for turning common metals into gold and Immortality . Flamel's stone can't give you Immortality, only an elixir to extend your life." Harry stared amazed while Ron whispered to him. "He knows alot about this." I sighed. "Well Better get back to studying, oh your friend is a muggle right?" They nodded, Ron gave a look ready to fight. "Wait here." I came back holding a book. Ron read it out loud. "etiquette for the common lord and lady?" I turned it around and the back changed now the title said "etiquette from mundane to magical, a good book to make sure one doesn't make mistakes, good read. It's just helpful is all." I placed the book and left them.

Studies came and left, Ivy and I were going as usual, mostly helping study and bad mouthing a teacher or two. Quirrel was getting weirder and simultaneously weaker, it was odd, but the strangest thing was Ron telling people to stop laughing at Quirrel, this made me worry that the snake had gotten his hands on Harry and his friends.

Tea with Hagrid came again, my wand had been shaking since I stepped inside. Though I was the only one there this time. Something about Hermione studying and making her only friends join her while the twins were in detention. "How have you been, Cepheus? Winter break must have been a good time with your girl and all?" I smiled at him, somehow he always felt like a warm fire on a cold winter night. "Same old, Mostly been helping Ivy study, and—" I stopped when I saw the crate. My wand stopped shaking and knew something was off. "Please tell me you're not carrying anything illegal Hagrid." After one stare between us, He took the box And placed it on the table and removed the hay. "By Merlin's hat. How did you get your hands on a dragon egg?" I said feeling the egg. "Well a friend o' mine got 'im from a breeder an' I Won it, yeh know me cepheus I always wanted raise me own dragon." I relented, I couldn't say no or argue with him. "Yea, you're right. So any name ideas? Looks like a Norwegian Ridgeback."

I said with a shrug. "Just a guess, I remember seeing it in my potions books, explaining what dragon egg shells change the effects on potions." He got closer and irradiated with joy. "Any other ideas?" I shrugged, only to read that dragon egg shells make great fire resistance potions because their parents breathe on it to hatch it. "Throw it in a fire and look up in the library how to feed it." He nodded and did as recommended, I stayed mostly cause I rather see a dragon hatch than hear another quidditch argument.

I waited a few hours and Hagrid came back. "Looks like we will be having more visitors." I started by changing my hair color to blond so no idiot figures out it's me, just for kicks I pointed my wand at my hair making it look like I used transfiguration. "What good does that do?" I sighed and gave an honest answer. "I don't wanna get yelled at by my uncle. I don't want Harry to go around telling everyone I'm helping raise a dragon, if my cousin finds out I will get yelled at and possibly cursed if my grandmother is any kind of role model. So what do we need?" Hagrid opened the book and started reading.

"We will need a bucket o' brandy mix with chicken blood." I am adding some good news. "I know a spell to drain blood without killing."

Hagrid looked shocked. "How did yeh learn summat like tha'?"

I smirked. "Dark family Hagrid, my grandfather had ritual books and better to have live a chicken to reuse than a dead one." Hagrid nodded and showed me to the cockerels and got my wand ready and cup from Hagrid to collect the stupid things life juice as vampires would possibly say.

A few mistakes I made were one, the spell took only a 1 minute to work properly, but one chicken doesn't have enough blood to fill an entire cup! so I ended up draining five chickens and only got half the cup full and spent an hour's worth of time chasing the damn things! "How did it go?" I placed the cup on the table. "that should be enough, i hope it wasn't hard, yeh were cursing up a storm." I sighed and drank my tea, honestly I just wanted to see an actual dragon. "I should just chopped their heads off." Hagrid laughed. "Yer first time catching chicken, isn't tha' fun is it?" I nodded, who knew being kind to chickens would end up being such a hassle.

Someone knocked on the dragon and I changed my robes to Hufflepuff. "Who is it?" he asked before letting them in, and then shut the door quickly behind them.

Hagrid made them tea and offered them stoat sandwiches, which they refused but I gladly took. "So - yeh wanted to ask me somethin'?"

"Yes," said Harry. They gave me a look before they just said it. "We were wondering if you could tell us what's guarding the Philosopher's Stone apart from Fluffy." I did show much emotion. "Oh so that's what fluffy is guarding."

Hagrid frowned at them.

"O' course I can't," he said. "Number one, I don' know meself. Number two, yeh know too much already, so I wouldn' tell yeh if I could. That Stone's here fer a good reason. It was almost stolen outta Gringotts - I s'ppose yeh've worked that out an' all? Beats me how yeh even know abou' Fluffy. " I didn't want to bud in this was great information.

"Oh, come on, Hagrid, you might not want to tell us, but you do know, you know everything that goes on round here," said Hermione in a warm, flattering voice. Hagrid's beard twitched and they could tell he was smiling. "We only wondered who had done the guarding, really. " Hermione went on. "We wondered who Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him, apart from you. "

Hagrid's chest swelled at these last words. Harry and Ron beamed at Hermione.

"Well, I don' s'pose it could hurt ter tell yeh that. . . let's see. . . he borrowed Fluffy from me. . . then some o' the teachers did enchantments. . . Professor Sprout - Professor Flitwick - Professor McGonagall - " he ticked them off on his fingers, "Professor Quirrell - an' Dumbledore himself did somethin', o' course. Hang on, I've forgotten someone. Oh yeah, Professor Snape. "

"Snape?"

"Yeah - yer not still on abou' that, are yeh? Look, Snape helped protect the Stone, he's not about ter steal it."

I nodded. "He showed me where it was incase of emergency." The trio looked at me with suspicion and somewhat of distrust, though it might have been because I was wearing Hufflepuff colors right now. "Headmaster Dumbledore knows what his doing, he trusts Snape as much as I trust Hagrid." The conversation returned to Hagrid.

"You're the only one who knows how to get past Fluffy. aren't you, Hagrid?" said Harry anxiously. "And you wouldn't tell anyone, would you? Not even one of the teachers?" I turned to hagrid. "Not a soul knows except me an' Dumbledore," Hagrid spoke proudly.

"Well, that's something," Harry muttered to the others. "Hagrid, can we have a window open? I'm boiling." I jumped in. "Better, now I'm getting down with a cold." I said make my face take on a shade of red . Sadly Harry noticed Hadrid glance at the fire. Harry looked at it, too.

"Hagrid - what's that ?" Harry pointed, but I already expected him to know what it was. In the very heart of the fire, underneath the kettle, was a huge, black egg.

"Ah," said Hagrid, fiddling nervously with his beard, "That's - er. . . "

I just told them. "A dragon egg, they already know."

I watched Ron get closer. "Where did you get it, Hagrid?" Ron asked, crouching over the fire to get a closer look at the egg. "It must've cost you a fortune. "

"Won it," Hagrid answered. "Las' night. I was down in the village havin' a few drinks an' got into a game o' cards with a stranger. Think he was quite glad ter get rid of it, ter be honest." I rubbed my nose, questioning how this man hasn't lost everything he own by now. "But what are you going to do with it when it's hatched?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I've bin doin' some readin'," said Hagrid, pulling a large book from under his pillow. "Got this outta the library - Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit - it's a bit outta date, o' course, but it's all in here. Keep the egg in the fire, 'cause their mothers breathe on I em, see, an' when it hatches, feed it on a bucket o' brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour. An' see here - how ter recognize diff'rent eggs - yer were right Cepheus, I got there's a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare, them. " He spoke very pleased with himself, but Hermione didn't.

"Hagrid, you live in a wooden house," she said.

But Hagrid wasn't listening. He was humming merrily as he stoked the fire. "A few fire resistance charms and it will be safer than a river." I reassured her.

But I had another worry about what might happen to Hagrid if anyone else found out he was hiding an illegal dragon in his hut. "But you should start planning when the dragon gets bigger, Hagrid."

"Wonder what it's like to have a peaceful life," Ron sighed. I couldn't tell if it was because of Hagrid having a dragon pet, or school work but I could tell frustration.

I came out of history the moment the owl gave me the letter. It was hatching. Curse me, hex me, cut my leg off! No one could stop me from seeing the hatching of a dragon!

I walked into the hut changing my clothes and hair again, now longer and in Ravenclaw blue. Hagrid greeted me, looking flushed and excited. I stared at the egg moving if trying to escape. A bit later Harry came and Hagrid ushered them in "It's nearly out." speaking with excitement and a note of fear.

The egg was lying on the table. There were deep cracks in it. Something was moving inside; a funny clicking noise was coming from it. We all drew their chairs up to the table and watched with bated breath.

All at once there was a scraping noise and the egg split open. The baby dragon flopped onto the table. It was amazing; I stared, no magic could achieve this, life was a miracle one I hoped to master. Though once the wonder and excitement left me It looked like a crumpled paper for a brief few moments. Its spiny wings were huge compared to its skinny jet body, it had a long snout with wide nostrils, the stubs of horns and bulging, orange eyes. It sneezed. A couple of sparks flew out of its snout.

"Isn't he beautiful ?" Hagrid murmured. He reached out a hand to stroke the dragon's head. It snapped at his fingers, showing pointed fangs. "Bless him, look, he knows his mommy!" said Hagrid. "Yea, and I'm his uncle." I joked but once I finished Ron gave me a look.

Hermione Spoke up. "Hagrid," She looked at him. "How fast do Norwegian Ridgebacks grow, exactly?" Hagrid was about to answer when the color suddenly drained from his face - he leapt to his feet and ran to the window.

"What's wrong? I swear if it's a unicorn." I was about go on a tirade on how much I disliked the most innocent thing in the world

He turned toward us "Someone was lookin' through the gap in the curtains - it's a kid - he's runnin' back up ter the school." I ran out of the hut and he shot me with a hex, though the pimple curse didn't last wrong but there was one issue. "Malfoy knows."

I spent most of my free time in Hagrids hut and so did the harry trio trying to reason with him.

"Just let him go," Harry urged. "Set him free. "

"I can't," said Hagrid. "He's too little. He'd die. "

They looked at the dragon. It had grown three times in length in just a week. Smoke kept furling out of its nostrils. Hagrid hadn't been doing his gamekeeping duties because the dragon was keeping him so busy. There were empty brandy bottles all over the floor.

"I've decided to call him Norbert," Hagrid announced, looking at the dragon with misty eyes. "He really knows me now, watch. Norbert! Norbert! Where's Mommy?" The dragon ignored him while pointing my wand in his direction causing norbert to flinch.

"Hagrid," said Harry loudly, "give it two weeks and Norbert's going to be as long as your house. Malfoy could go to Dumbledore at any moment."

Hagrid bit his lip and looked at me. "I have to be honest Hagrid, he's not wrong."

"I - I know I can't keep him forever, but I can't jus' dump him, I can't. "

Harry suddenly turned to Ron. "Charlie." I remembered Charlie, never spoke to him. Always the top marks in magical creatures.

"You're losing it, too?" Ron asked harry. "I'm Ron, remember?" He clarified.

"No - Charlie - your brother, Charlie. In Romania. Studying dragons. We could send Norbert to him. Charlie can take care of him and then put him back in the wild!"

"Brilliant!" said Ron. "How about it, Hagrid?" He relented and we left the hut.

"Hagrid has a big heart, sometimes too big. But his ears are tiny." I chuckled, Hermoine and Ron were about to speak up but I continued. "His true friend Harry, don't ever forget, got it. I will keep an Eye on my Cousin, you just make sure Nobert is safe. I don't want Hagrid hurt." I left them and I spent the rest of the week keeping my eyes on Draco.

For a week I stalked my cousin as he was looking for the Ravenclaw who had been helping Hagrid.

On one occasion I took a book from my cousin. "Stealing is beneath us, cousin, that's for the muggles and the poor." I opened the book to see the letter and with a whisper I turned it into a page in the book." I looked at him annoyed. "Who did you take this from?" I asked kindly even if I knew who it was from, the address was clear it was a Weasley.

"Ronald Weasley, his hiding a-" I cut, like the claw of a raptor. "I know cousin, I bought the egg shells and then gave them to professor Snape." That was a stinking lie, he gave it to me as gratitude and I kept half of it myself. "Stop, listen Draco the half breed is a valuable supplier to my research and so stop with this tomfoolery." I bit my tongue at calling Hagrid a half breed.

I found the twins. "Hey, tweedle dee and tweedle dum. You know where your little brother is?"

They looked at each other. "Rons in the hospital wing, why?" I took a breath. "What's with your bad mood?" Fred asked.

"Had to teach my cousin that stealing is bad. I hate talking like my uncle." They laughed and I just chuckled. "See you later, warning, don't pick up anything that looks like contraband." I entered the Wing and Pomfrey greeted me with a smile "Cepheus, there's nothing to restock today dear" I smiled. "I wanted to talk with my friend's brother." I stepped to Ron and gave him his book, he was panicking.

He showed the empty envelope "Malfoy has my letter!" I sighed, I guess I was too late. "Sorry Ron, I hoped I got it before Draco did. What was on it anyway?"

I asked Ron and he answered in the same manic tone. "It was a letter from charlie, he wrote that his friends will be there to pick up Norbert at midnight Saturday." I sighed professor wanted to experiment with Notbert shells that evening.

Next morning I found out that they were successful, yet they lost one hundred and fifty points. "So are you going to prank Harry or should I send him a thank you note from lord black?" The twins groaned. "What?"

Jordan lee spoke up. "We it, get seven years in a row, good luck keeping that up when for a century." I pulled out a parchment, a map so to speak. "Just happy to know, I get to see professor morgonigal in a Green sweater with the rest of the staff."

They looked confused. "What do you mean, Ceph?" I smirked.

"Let's just say that the staff have a tradition of wearing the wining houses colors at the end of the year, Hagrid feels left out because his always the one taking the picture Flich just hides before taking picture's, I'm gonna be having big old smile the entire time." Fred was now suspicious. "How did you bribe Dumbledore?" I glared back. "The same way everyone does, lemon drops." His brother Jordan just held back their laughter at our dramatic conversation.

I went to tea with Hagrid and he showed me shedded skin and nails from the Nobert. "I miss 'im already, I hope he's not scared. I forgot write down his lullaby!" I just accepted the fact I would be listening to a grieving father with empty nest syndrome about his evil dragon for the rest of the year, at least it got better over time and even fang looked healthier now.

Authors note: I hope you enjoyed this, so please reply so I can get some information on what you like and what You don't.