Sean had gotten detention from McGonagall. Apparently he'd come to class 15 minutes late one day, and she wasn't happy about it. Sean had given Sean a week's worth of detention. This, actually, was probably a lot better than what Harry had coming to him, even though Snape had never really said how many detentions he would get.

That night they made their way together to Filch's office from the common room. They didn't say anything on the way; a comfortable silence hung between them. They didn't need to say anything to be in each other's company.

"You're late," barked Filch when they arrived.

Actually, they were early, but Filch didn't seem to care about that. "You'll be serving your detentions with Hagrid tonight. Oh, but don't think it'll be easy. No, you'll be doing real physical labor," Filch grinned nastily. "Of course, it won't be as satisfying as the days of chains and shackles…"

They met Hagrid at the big doors of the entrance hall. Harry was very surprised when he saw him. He hadn't realized how long it had been since he saw Hagrid. Actually, now that they were face to face, he felt very guilty about not having come down to wish him a merry Christmas.

'Why should you have bothered anyway? He's just a gamekeeper, and you were busy...'

"Yeah," Harry muttered allowed to himself, "busy getting caught."

"What was that Harry?" asked Hagrid.

"Oh," started Harry, who hadn't actually realized he had spoken out loud. "Nothing."

Harry was confused by the sudden return of the voice. He hadn't heard it since….well, before Christmas. He had been to the point where he heard it constantly in the common room and at meals…it had been unnerving. But then when it had gone, he hadn't even noticed.

'But it's back,' thought Harry. 'I'll have to be careful.'

"Alright, there," said Hagrid, "we'll be working on the Quidditch field. It's gone and been all roughed up by some pranksters, so we've got to set it straight. Come along."

Harry followed Hagrid and realized what had been bothering him about his appearance so much. Were those scorch marks in his beard?

The work was hard. Some students had torn up the field and had enchanted confetti constantly falling. Sean was allowed to magic away the enchantment, but they were forced to remedy the mess without magic. Once the confetti was all gone, Hagrid handed them both shovels and rather large bags with seeds inside.

"Okay, you'll have to fill in all the divots, and then go through and reseed the whole field, paying special attention to the bald patches."

It was slow work. The seeds were magical, and sprouted grass instantly, but Hagrid constantly went through and criticized their work, and pointed out places they had missed. Harry knew Hagrid wasn't trying to make it hard on them. He just wanted the job done right.

It was completely dark out by the time they finished. Hagrid gave the final okay, and they carried their empty seed sacks and shovels back to his hut.

"Wow. Hey take detention seriously here," said Harry, wiping a thin sweat with the back of his hand.

"Yeah, I've been forced to do a lot worse. At least we didn't have bathroom duty. Scrubbing all those toilets and urinals with no magic…" Sean shuddered and Harry laughed.

"You get many detentions?" asked Harry.

Sean shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe a few more than the average student. Then again, I don't understand 'boundaries' or how it is 'important to be a good role-model for younger students'."

Harry laughed. Sean definitely wouldn't be earning any role model awards.

Silence settled between them as they trailed after Hagrid.

"Harry," said Sean suddenly, "how are the other houses treating you after…you know. The Quidditch match."

"About the same as you were," Harry snapped.

He stopped walking for a step. He had shocked himself. Where had that come from? He wasn't angry with Sean, and certainly hadn't meant to react this way. But, then again, wasn't it true?

He looked over to Sean to see if he had hurt him. Sean didn't look upset. Actually, if Harry hadn't known better, he would have sworn he had seen him give just the quickest, faintest of smiles.

"Yeah, sorry about that," said Sean, not really sounding sorry. "Listen, Harry. I know we talk about inter-house peace and good will, but, the fact is, it's all a load of crock. In the end, they'll all just stab you in the back to win. We're not meant to get along. That's why we have all those competitions. House cup, the Quidditch cup…it's all devised to get the best out of us. The only thing is, competition doesn't bring out the best. It brings out the most ambitious. Whatever that may be."

Harry listened, but didn't respond. He didn't need Sean to tell him this. He already knew it. After the first Quidditch match when all his "friends" had shunned him, Harry had realized something: friendships only work with the competition if you let them win. Everybody played everyone else like pawns…or attempted to. The thing was, it gets very complicated when all the pawns on your bored have their own agenda to use you like a chess piece.

He could handle it, though. 'It's not as though it's impossible,' thought Harry. 'It's just become a game that only the best can play.'

And Harry wanted to play.

When they reached Hagrid's hut, they dropped off their supplies and started to make their way back to the school when Hagrid called after Harry. "Er, Harry," he said, "would you mind coming in quickly for some tea?"

Harry was really tired, but he also felt as though he ought to stay and talk with Hagrid, if only because the voice had told him otherwise earlier.

He waved goodbye to Sean and went into Hagrid's.

He was alarmed by what he saw.

He hut was thick with smoke, and there were little, smoldering spots everywhere. But that was the most shocking part.

"H-Hagrid," stammered Harry, "is that a…dragon?"

"Er," said Hagrid, looking back at a winged, fanged and scaly creature, "yeah, Harry, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. This here is Norbert. He's a Norwegian Ridgeback."

Hagrid beamed like a proud parent.

"Um, Hagrid…aren't they illegal?"

"Well…I suppose, but that's not important. See, I raised Norbert here from egg. He's not that old. Only a few weeks, but look how the little baby's growing!"

Harry didn't see anything little or remotely baby-like about the creature, but he decided to let this slide.

"Hagrid, where did you get him and why are you showing me him now?"

Harry was slightly hurt that Hagrid hadn't shared Norbert with him before. But, then, he hadn't been visiting Hagrid that much. He was also upset hat Hagrid would get him involved at all. Harry was already in loads of trouble! What would happen if it was found out that he was involved in some illegal dragon…breeding, or whatever?

"Ah, now, I just wanted to share him with you, Harry," said Hagrid. "I won him off of a stranger in a pub."

Harry was still in shock. "Hagrid," he said, "you can't keep him."

"Oh, well I know that," said Hagrid. "I'll let him free when he's grown up, just like all mommies do."

Harry raised an eyebrow at Hagrid's reference to himself as the dragon's "mommy", but decided to let it slide. "Hagrid, I mean soon. You're going to get caught! You'll get into tons of trouble! You could be kicked out! Even Professor Dumbledore can't turn a blind eye on illegal dragon possession!"

Hagrid didn't look convinced. He was looking dreamy-eyed at Norbert, who was rudely devouring some small, furry creature.

"Hagrid," Harry tried again, "think of all the trouble I'll get into."

That caught Hagrid's attention. Harry knew it was a low blow, but he had to try. It was true…he would get in trouble for this.

"You?" asked Hagrid.

"Yes, me," said Harry. "When you're caught, I'll be caught! That's guilt by association or something! And after all the stupid things I did over the holiday, I can't afford more trouble. Hagrid, I could be expelled."

And Harry knew he had done it. He had convinced Hagrid. He saw little tears form in his black beetle eyes, and he felt a momentary pang of guilt. But, he had won, and saved them both, he knew.

"It's all right, Hagrid," said Harry, clapping the large man on the back. "I promise he'll stay until we find him a good home. Don't worry about it. He'll always love his mommy."

And Harry had never felt so dirty and deceitful. He had just played one of the first friends he had ever made…one of the first people he ever remembered showing any sign of affection to him. 'But,' he though, 'it was for his own good…'