Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.
"How do you know about Fluffy?" James asked in a serious voice. "From a memory or from personal experience?"
Harry gulped. "Um..." He hedged.
Poppy came back over. "He needs his rest." She announced.
"Yeah, I need to rest," Harry said quickly.
"He can rest in our quarters can't he?" Lily asked Poppy.
"Yes. If he has any sudden headaches or blurriness, let me know," Poppy instructed.
"We will," James said as he picked up Harry.
"I can walk, Dad!" Harry protested.
James ignored his whining and carried him out of the infirmary.
Once settled in his own bed, James sat down next to him. "Now, before you rest I want you to tell me about how you knew about Fluffy. From a memory?"
"No," Harry admitted. "Although I remembered its name from a memory."
"Were you in the forbidden corridor?" Lily asked, her eyes narrowing.
Harry bit his lip and nodded.
James gave an exasperated sigh. "Why would you deliberately disobey the rule?"
"I didn't. We were running from Filch and ended up there in the room with Fluffy!" Harry defended himself.
"We? You and Ron? Hermione? Neville?" Lily questioned.
"Not Neville," Harry said in a small voice.
"Why were you running from Mr. Filch?" James asked.
Harry hesitated.
"Harry, I'm starting to lose my patience," James said in a low voice.
"We were out after curfew and didn't want Filch to catch us," Harry admitted.
Lily couldn't help but smirk. "Out after curfew? Now, who does that remind me of?" She murmured.
James rolled his eyes, a small smile on his lips. He wasn't stupid, he knew his child would wander after curfew, exploring the castle. He, Sirius, and Remus certainly had when they had been in school. He couldn't count the number of times they had run to hide from being caught by Filch. "I know it sounds hypocritical for me to tell you not to wander around the castle after curfew, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to insist on it." He said slowly. "After the troll and now your broom, someone is clearly out to cause trouble for you. So no more breaking curfew. And definitely, you and your friends are not going anywhere near Fluffy. I do not want you in that corridor again."
"Can you tell me what he is guarding?" Harry asked eagerly.
"No. It is none of your business." Lily said firmly. "No more investigating."
Harry sighed. He shouldn't push it, otherwise, they may find out why he had been out after curfew. He knew his parents wouldn't be at all pleased if they knew he had planned to duel Draco, and he didn't want to risk getting Draco into trouble. "Okay." He agreed.
"Good boy," James said approvingly. "Now get some sleep and then we'll have dinner down here. Sound good?"
Harry nodded sleepily.
"Harry?" A small voice asked from the doorway.
"Hey Prim," Harry said with a yawn.
Prim hurried over and snuggled in next to Harry. "I was so worried," She whispered.
"I'm okay," Harry said, putting his arm around her.
"What happened? Your broom was acting so funny."
"Someone jinxed my broom."
"Who?"
"No idea," Harry said drowsily.
Prim yawned as well and snuggled into Harry's side. They were soon both asleep.
HP
"They're both sleeping," Lily said as she joined her husband and friends in the sitting room. "Prim fell asleep next to Harry. It's so adorable."
"Good, they've both had a hard day," James ran a hand through his hair. "Merlin, seeing Harry's broom act up and then him unconscious scared me."
"We ran some tests on his broom and removed the jinx but there's no trace of who may have left it," Regulus spoke up.
"It was advanced though," Snape added. "It deliberately took him to the forest."
"So it had to be a professor," Lily said. "Or maybe a seventh year? If the jinx was advanced..."
"Does Harry remember who jinxed his broom in his other reality?"
"Apparently I did," Snape said bitterly.
"No, he said he other self had thought you did," James corrected. "He doesn't remember who was actually behind it."
"If I could go into his other reality and punch that Severus, I would," Snape said.
Sirius snorted. "Sorry." He said as everyone looked at him. "I'm just picturing it."
Remus shook his head. "Why would someone want to hurt Harry? I mean, Voldemort is dead."
"Despite being dead, he still has those who believed in his cause," Snape said quietly. "They would hurt him simply for revenge."
James paced the room. "I won't let him be hurt," He said fiercely. "Which means Harry is going to have to follow some extra rules."
Sirius sighed. "Poor pup."
"Extra rules will keep him safe, Padfoot," Remus pointed out.
"True." Sirius conceded.
"And now that you are on staff, you will be responsible for helping to enforce the rules," Regulus smirked.
Sirius made a face.
James chuckled. "It won't be that bad. I don't want him to go anywhere alone, one of us or a prefect will accompany him to his classes. He isn't to go outside without one of us with him. He should be in his dorm or here by six."
"That's too early," Sirius protested.
"It's for his own safety and for our peace of mind," Lily spoke up. "It's just until we figure out what is going on."
"I know it's for the best," Sirius sighed. "I just feel bad for him." He eyed Lily and James. "He is still allowed to play Quidditch, isn't he?"
James glanced at Lily and she nodded. "Yes. But we will be putting protection charms on his broom, and at least two of us should be with him during practices."
"Well, I'll be there of course as a coach," Sirius said. "I can protect him."
"Yes, but you'll be needing to pay attention to all the players so having an extra set of eyes will help," Snape pointed out.
"How about me? I was thinking of staying here at the castle until we figure out what is going on," Remus said. "The more of us here, the better protected Harry is."
James and Lily smiled at their friends, knowing they were blessed to have such devoted people in their lives.
"What will your reason for being here be, Moony?"
Remus shrugged. "I don't know. I can ask Albus if there is anything I can do."
Sirius grinned mischievously. "You can be Filch's assistant."
Remus made a face. "I'll pass. He still hates all of us."
"He doesn't hate me," Lily said smugly.
James rolled his eyes. "That's because you bat your pretty green eyes at him and always ask after Mrs. Norris."
"I do not bat my eyes at him!" Lily exclaimed with a laugh, punching his shoulder.
"See the abuse I put up with?" James complained, rubbing his shoulder with an exaggerated wince.
Lily giggled.
"And you wonder why we remain single?" Sirius teased, gesturing to himself, Reg and Snape.
"I believe I know what you could do here at the castle," Snape said to Remus. "Madam Pince has been wanting to take a vacation to visit family. However, she will only entrust her library to someone who will care for the books the way she does."
"Oh, she'll be thrilled with Moony. She always loved him." Sirius said with a grin.
Regulus looked thoughtful. "I remember a rumor when we were students that she and Remus had a torrid love affair." He grinned.
"What?" Remus's mouth dropped open. "That's ridiculous." He sputtered.
"Oh, yes. I remember that. Sirius started the rumor." James told him with a grin.
Sirius scowled at him. "Thanks, Prongs," He said sarcastically. He backed up when Remus rounded on him. "It was an accident! I said it as a joke and some of the younger years overheard me!" He defended himself.
"I wondered why some of our classmates would keep asking me if I thought Madam Pince was pretty," Remus said with a huff.
Snape and Regulus snickered while James roared with laughter.
Sirius tried not to laugh, he really did but soon he was laughing so hard he was doubling over.
"Shh! You'll wake the kids!" Lily said before also breaking into laughter herself.
HP
"I'm pleased to add a new member to our staff," Dumbledore said cheerfully the next morning during breakfast. "Remus Lupin will be temporarily filling in for Madam Pince in the library while she is away."
Harry looked over at the Slytherin table to see Draco grinning at the news.
"So your parents didn't say anything about what Fluffy is hiding?" Ron asked once the Headmaster was done talking.
"Nope and we're not allowed to investigate any further," Harry said. He scowled. "I still can't believe the restrictions they put on me."
"They just want to keep you safe," Hermione said softly. "It was really scary to see your broom act up and then fly you to the forest."
"Yeah, but early curfew? Can't go outside without an adult?" Ron waved his fork around. "It's mental! It's not like he would be alone, we're always with him!"
"But we're first years. We wouldn't be able to protect him from an adult wizard who wants to hurt him," Hermione said in exasperation.
"True," Ron admitted reluctantly.
Harry stared at his plate. Why would someone want to hurt him? Just because of Voldemort? It has been years since he died, why try to hurt me now? Harry wondered. And who would even bother? What did they hope to accomplish?
HP
"Thank you for walking me safely to the Tower, Professor," Harry said with a smirk.
"Such cheek," James sighed. "Too much like your mother."
Harry chuckled. "Right. Like Mum, sure."
James tousled his hair. "Brat." He hugged his boy. "Have a good night and don't stay up too late."
"Night, Dad," Harry said as the fat lady let him in. He immediately headed over to the couch where Hermione and Ron were sitting. "Hey, guys."
"I saw Hagrid with a dragon's egg!" Ron whispered excitedly.
"What? When?"
"Earlier, when you were visiting your parents," Ron said. "He tried to hide it but I saw it!"
"Are you sure it was a dragon's egg?" Hermione asked.
Ron scowled. "Of course! My older brother Charlie studies dragons, I've seen tons of pictures before."
"Aren't dragon eggs rare?" Harry asked.
"Very rare." Ron nodded.
"Hagrid has always wanted a dragon, I remember him telling me once," Harry murmured. "Do you think he would let us be there when it hatches?" He asked eagerly.
"We can ask," Ron said.
"Wouldn't that be dangerous?" Hermione asked doubtfully.
"But think how fascinating it would be," Harry teased her. "Educational, even."
Hermione smiled ruefully. "You have a point."
"You'll have to sneak out to see it hatch. Otherwise whatever adult is with you will know." Ron said.
Harry bit his lip. He still had his dad's invisibility cloak. Thankfully his father hadn't noticed it was gone. If he told his parents that Percy was escorting him to the dorms...perhaps he could sneak away.
"Harry," Hermione said disapprovingly.
"I just want to see it when it hatches," Harry said defensively. "I'll be safe. First things first, we need to ask Hagrid if he will let us know when it is time to hatch."
"We can talk to him tomorrow," Ron said.
The next day, Ron spoke to Hagrid who agreed to let the trio watch the egg hatch when it was time as long as they didn't tell anyone.
"He said it shouldn't be long," Ron said as they left the Great Hall. "The egg could hatch at any time!"
"What egg?"
The trio spun around. "Oh, hey, Draco," Harry said casually.
Draco eyed them suspiciously. "What egg?" He repeated.
"Um," Hermione glanced at Harry and Ron. "Can we trust him?"
"No," Ron said.
"Yes," Harry said.
"Trust me with what?" Draco demanded.
"You can't tell anyone," Harry warned him. "Not one person. Promise?"
Draco nodded. "I promise."
"Hagrid has a dragon egg and he is going to let us watch it hatch!"
Draco's eyes widened. "A dragon's egg?" His eyes sparkled. "I want to watch it too! Please? I love dragons!"
"How will we be able to let you know? You reside in the dungeons." Hermione pointed out.
Harry brightened. "I know! Sirius has these two-way mirrors that he and my dad used to use to talk to each other when they were in school and during detentions. I'll ask if I can borrow them!"
"Brilliant!" Draco said enthusiastically.
HP
A few days later, Hagrid sent a message that the egg was ready to hatch. It was after curfew so Harry, Ron, and Hermione used the invisibility cloak to sneak out. Thankfully Percy was busy studying for a test and didn't notice the portrait suddenly opening.
"Draco," Harry whispered into the mirror as they walked downstairs.
"It's time?" Draco's face appeared.
"Meet us at the entrance. Hurry and be discreet." Harry said.
"I'm a Slytherin. Of course, I'm discreet," Draco huffed before disappearing from view.
Once at the entrance, Draco looked around in confusion. "Where are you guys?" He whispered loudly.
"Here," Harry said, letting the cloak reveal their heads.
"Merlin!" Draco said, startled. Then he grinned. "That's brilliant!"
"Hurry, get under with us."
At the hut, the four pre-teens watched in fascination as the egg finally cracked open and the little dragon hopped out.
"Oh, look at him!" Hagrid cooed. "Hi, Norbert."
"Norbert?" Draco wrinkled his nose.
The dragon let out a huff and Hagrid's beard caught on fire.
"Oops," Hagrid chuckled, patting his beard. "Isn't he sweet?"
"He is cute," Hermione smiled. Her smile slowly faded. "But Hagrid, what if he set the hut on fire?"
Hagrid didn't respond, he was too busy talking to Norbert.
"I suppose he can't live in here," Ron said.
"Well, duh," Draco drawled. "Obviously a dragon can't live in a hut made of wood."
Ron glared at him.
"Just think when Norbert starts to grow," Hermione said worriedly.
Harry looked over at Hagrid uneasily. What if they couldn't convince Hagrid that he couldn't keep Norbert here? Where could Norbert stay?
Suddenly the door to the hut burst open. "Hagrid, have you seen – Harry!" Sirius exclaimed, relief filling his eyes as he hugged his godson. "I've been worried sick! The whole staff is looking for you!" He sent his Patronus, a silvery dog, trotting towards the castle. He then focused on the four kids, his arms crossed. "I can't believe you guys -" He froze, his eyes on Norbert. "Is that a dragon?" He asked in shock.
"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid beamed.
"Yeah," Sirius said weakly.
"What are you doing here, Sirius?" Harry finally asked in a small voice.
"Looking for you," Sirius scowled at him. "I was doing patrol when one of the portraits mentioned seeing doors open and yet no one was there." He crossed his arms. "I had a suspicious feeling about that so I went to check on you in your dorm. Imagine my worry when I found out you weren't there and imagine my fear when I couldn't find you anywhere in the castle! Then Percy realized that Ron and Hermione were missing as well." He glanced at Ron. "Your brother is beside himself with worry, by the way."
Ron hung his head.
"And you, no one knew you were even missing!" Sirius said to Draco. He shook his head. "Let's go. I'll take Ron and Hermione to the Tower, Draco to Remus and you, Harry, I'll take you to your parents." He eyed Hagrid. "Hagrid, you know you can't keep him." He said gently.
Hagrid's expression fell. "I know." He said sadly.
"We'll find a good home for him," Sirius assured him before ushering the children out of the hut.
Harry shared an unhappy look with his friends. They were all in for it now.
TBC: