Chapter 9
Seeing the dragon hatch was surreal for all of the kids and they both hoped and wished they never would again see a dragon hatch or indeed any dragon at all.
The dragon had spiny wings and a skinny body with orange eyes among other featured. It wasn't pretty.
Despite that the four Gryffindors who saw this Hagrid was at first site off the dragon smitten
"Hagrid?" asked Hermione "how fast is the dragon going to grow."
They saw him got to answer but then paled as he went to the window.
"Someone saw." he said to the group.
Harry bolted to the window and saw who it was.
'Malfoy.'
----------------
"Please Draco," said Annabelle at dinner that night. "Don't tell," she begged. "For me."
It had been decided that if any one could stop him talking it was his little god sister. She had been one of the things he loved for so long now that if he didn't listen to her he wouldn't any one.
"Annabelle, how can you asks that of me, he's got Anna illegal dragon,"
"I know, I know but we're going to get rid of it I just need a couple of weeks then if its still there you can spill all to my father," she said and he nodded.
"Going back to the trio she told them what had gone on.
"Thanks for that Anna," Harry said. "You've brought us time and we wouldn't have been able to do it with out you." he said.
--------------
A week later and hope came to them again this time in the form of Ron's elder brother Charlie.
He was a dragon handler in Romania. He was going to get his friends to pick it up which they were all grateful for.
Ron had already been bitten by 'Norbert' and they all just wanted to see the back of him now.
Saturday was the day they were set to get shot off him.
Soon Draco was going to off there backs too.
However when the day came Ron's hand had got worse and now was twice as n big as it rightfully should be.
And Malfoy and Ron had been fighting that week; Draco had taken one of Ron's books, the one with the information on how they were getting rid of the dragon in.
"Don't worry he'll stick to his word," Annabelle hoped.
"It's too late to change the plans now" Hermione agreed. "What ever we are going to have to risk it now.
So that was what they did. When Saturday came the three well enough for the mission, went to Hagrid's to pick up the dragon.
After what seemed a hard farewell for Hagrid, they went up tot the Astronomy tower of course all the way under Harry's father's cloak, and met Charlie's friends.
Finally they got to the top of the tower and delivered it.
"Yes," said Hermione, "I am so happy I could sing."
"Don't" said Harry and Annabelle at the same time and laughed.
Just as they got back to the bottom of the stairs they had climbed up they heard something.
"Well, well, well aren't we in trouble."
Filch, damn cursed Annabelle in her head.
They had forgotten the clock.
Things couldn't be any worse.
When they got to McGonagall she was fuming. They had never seen her so angry. They were scared all three of them.
"I would never have believed it of any of you," she begun. "Mr Filch says you were up the astronomy tower. It is one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourself."
No one had an excuse good enough that wasn't a lie so no one said anything.
I am degusted, three students all from my house walking around so late at night. I have never heard of such a thing. You, Miss Granger I though had more sense. You Mr. Potter I had thought Gryffindor meant more than this too you and Miss Snape I cant begin to imagine what your father will have to say on the matter."
"No miss please don't my father, he'll be furious." She begged with tears ever nearing her eyes.
"Miss I am furious and how can I not tell him, he would only hear it from someone else. All of you will receive detention and fifty points will be deducted from Gryffindor. Each."
"No professor, please," begged Harry.
"Mr Potter I would think you have been in enough trouble tonight than to answer back to me. Now get to bed all three of you. Never have I been so disappointed I been Gryffindor students.-" she said and then there was a new voice in the room.
"Nor I my daughter." a stern voice said.
This wasn't her father, this was the heard cold potions master and Annabelle could hear in his voice just how angry with her Severus' was.
"Professor McGonagall may I talk my daughter, I do believe need a chat," he said to her.
"Of
course Severus go on, Miss Snape, you two," she addressed the
others. "Get to bed."
"Come along Annabelle," she heard a
voice tell her and she looked to her friends who gave her sorry
smiles as she followed her father dejected.
"I am quite frankly appalled Annabelle," he said as they got to there quarters. What came over you girl, this isn't you sneaking out." he told her and got no reply. She seemed very ashamed. "Potter made you didn't he."
"NO! Harry didn't dad, this is much as my fault" he insisted.
"so what went on tonight." he said. "Tell me Annabelle its written all over your face. You were there for a reason."
"I cant tell you dad." she said holding her ground. She wasn't going to get Hagrid in trouble. He was her friend and she had a loyalty to him to hold true too.
"Anna," he said to get. But it became clear she wasn't going to tell him and he got fed up orf waiting.
"You are not to speak to Granger, Potter or Weasley again girl do you hear me?" He said.
"No dad please-"
"Are you not in enough trouble?" he asked. "Get to your room Annabelle."
Tears filled her eyes as she run to her room and slammed the door shut in frustration.
She was no way not going to talk to her friends again. He couldn't stop her.
She had never seen him like that before and it had shocked her, so that made too of them, she thought, he hadn't believed her behavior that night.
They had been so close. She wished she hadn't come to him full time now, none of this would have happened and mare importantly she still would have had a mum. Her dad wouldn't be angry with her like he was either.
Morning came with out a wink of sleep for the youngest Snape.
She felt so upset by what had gone on last night.
"Are we going up to breakfast?" she asked as she came out. She was in one of her dresses and her long socks again. She had two tight plaits in her hair.
"No, we are going to stay in today. You're grounded for the day till I can think of a more suitable punishment!"
"I already have detention."
"From your head off house, not from me." he said ass he put egg and tea on the table.
"Eat." he said.
Later that day she had more embarrassment as she saw aunt and uncle Malfoy.
He came and saw her father regularly on Sundays and they were shocked by her behavior.
Lucius and Narcissa were also disappointed in her.
"I'm sorry!" she said one last time and went to her room
"Are you ok?" asked Narcissa.
"I never thought she would ever do that," he said.
"She made a mistake, she has had a really hard few months Severus you know that better than any one. "Give her a little slack, the child needs it." Narcissa insisted.
