Chapter 16
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AN1: So, I woke up earlier than usual and there are only 12 reviews, but I figure that is close enough for a two-chapter update. THANK YOU. PLEASE REVIEW.
April 20th 1992
It has been almost two months since Harry overheard the conversation between Snape and Quirrell an ever since the foursome of Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron have realised that Quirrell is even stronger than they have realised as he doesn't seem to have broken. The fact that Snape is even more unpleasant than normal supports this. In the last two months Harry and Hermione have both lost a lot of points, but as of yet they haven't received another detention, which has been a surprise.
It is the end of the Easter holiday and as they were up in the library studying, because Hermione feels that they have to start studying for exams already, where they saw Hagrid looking up books on dragons Hermione, Harry, Neville and Ron have headed down to Hagrid's hut so they can get some answers about what is going on.
"Who is it?" Hagrid call as the foursome knocks.
"It's us, Hagrid." Hermione calls back, surprised as Hagrid doesn't usually check before letting them in but this time he does and ounce the four first years are inside he quickly shuts the door behind them.
From the second the four of them walk into Hagrid's they realise that it is extremely hot inside, and that even though it is a warm day there is a fire in the grate. Once they are sitting down Hagrid makes them all tea and offers them sandwiches that they refuse.
"So, yeh wanted to ask me something." Hagrid says once he's made the tea.
"Yes." Harry says figuring that there is no point beating around the bush, "The four of us were wondering if you could tell us what's guarding the Philosopher's Stone, apart from Fluffy." Harry says, causing Hagrid to frown at him.
"O' course I can't." Hagrid tells them, "Number one, I don't know meself. Number two, yeh know too much already, so I wouldn' tell yeh if I could." Hagrid informs them, "The 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." Hagrid says.
As she hears that Hermione quickly runs through everything she's knows about Hagrid and she realises a way to try and get the answers they want,
"Oh, come on, Hagrid, you might not want to tell us, but you do know." Hermione says, "You know everything that goes on around here." Hermione says, in a warm flattering voice.
Hearing that Hagrid's beard twitches and it is clear to the others that he is smiling,
"We were only wondering who had done the guarding, really." Neville goes on, realising what Hermione is doing, using the same kind of voice that Hermione is using.
"We were wondering who Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him, apart from you." Hermione finishes.
Hearing that both Harry and Ron look quiet amazed at Hermione and Neville as Hagrid's chest swells in pride.
"Well, I don' s'pose it could hurt ter tell yeh that, let's see, he borrowed Fluffy from me, then some o' the teaches did enchantments; Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid says, ticking them off on his fingers, "Professor Quirrell and Dumbledore himself did somethin' o' course. Hang on, I've forgotten something. Oh yeah, Professor Snape."
"Snape?" Hermione, Neville, Ron and Harry say together, all four of them sounding shocked.
"Yeah, yer not still on abou' that, are yeh? Look, Snape helped protect the Stone, He's not about ter steal it." Hagrid informs the foursome and as he does Hermione, Harry, Neville and Ron all start to the think the same thing that if Snape is in on protecting the stone then it must have been easy to find out how the other teaches had guarded it, and from what they know he knows everything except Quirrell's spell and how to get past Fluffy.
"You're the only one who knows how to get past Fluffy. Aren't you, Hagrid?" Harry asks, sounding worried, "An you wouldn't tell anyone, would you? Not even one of the teaches?"
"Not a soul knows except me an' Dumbledore." Hagrid says, sounding rather proud of himself.
"Well, that's something." Neville whispers to the others and they nod in agreement.
"Hagrid, can we have a window open? I'm boiling." Harry comments.
"Can't, Harry, sorry." Hagrid says and as he does he quickly glances at the fire, something which Harry notices.
"Hagrid, what's that?" Harry asks, though he has a sinking feeling that he already knows as in the heart of the fire is a huge black egg, and from the second Harry asks the question Hagrid looks very uncomfortable.
"Where did you get it Hagrid?" Ron asks shocked as he crouches down near the fire to have a closer look.
"It must have costed you a fortune." Neville comments as he too crouches down to get a better look.
"Won it." Hagrid answers, "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 quiet glad to ter get rid of it, ter be honest."
"I really don't blame him." Neville mutters to himself, as he is seriously tempted to run from this hut right now, but he won't.
"But what are you going to do with it when it's hatched?" Hermione asks, not seeing this ending any way other than badly.
"Well, I've bin doin' some readin'" Hagrid says as he pulls a large book from under his pillow, "Go 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 em, see an' when it hatches, feed it on a bucket o' brandy mixed with chicken blood every half an hour. An' see here, how ter recognize diff'rent eggs, what got there is a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare, them." Hagrid informs the foursome, looking rather pleased with himself.
"Hagrid, you live in a wooden house." Hermione reminds him but Hagrid isn't listening, he's humming as he stoked the fire.
"Wonder what it's like to have a peaceful life." Ron sighs to Harry, Hermione and Neville.
"Something tells me that we're not going to find out anytime soon." Neville comments.
"We're really not." Harry confirms with a sigh as the four of them exchange worried looks, all four of them thinking that things are just not going to end well.
April 24th 1992
It has been four days since Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville found out that Hagrid has a dragon egg and Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville are once more back in Hagrid's hut, during their break, watching something that none of them ever thought they would experience, watching a dragon hatching.
"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid says, in an amazed voice once the baby dragon is out of the egg, honestly in the opinion of the other four it looks more like a crumpled, black umbrella, as he reaches out and strokes the dragon's head, "Bless him, look, he knows his mommy!" Hagrid says, once more sounding amazed and causing Hermione, Neville, Ron and Hermione to exchange looks, all of them wondering about Hagrid's sanity right about now.
"Hagrid." Hermione says kindly, "How fast do Norwegian Ridgebacks grow, exactly?" she asks curious and Hagrid is about to answer, but his face suddenly drains of all colour and he leaps to his feet and runs to the window.
"What's the matter?" Neville asks curious as he moves over to have a look.
"Someone was lookin' through the gap in the curtains, it's a kid, he's runnin' back up ter the school."
"It's Malfoy, I'll know him anywhere." Neville tells the others.
"Not good, not good, really not good." Harry says, saying what they are all thinking.
"I'd say that is an understatement."
May 9th 1992
For almost two weeks Harry, Hermione, Neville and Ron just wait for the bomb to drop, they wait for some kind of sign that Malfoy has told, but as far as they can tell he hasn't, though none of them like the smirk that has been on Malfoy's face ever since.
Ever since The foursome saw the dragon hatch they have been spending most their time in Hagrid's hut, trying to get through to him, trying to get him to see that keeping a Dragon in his hut is a very bad idea.
As Harry and Ron once more try to get through to Hagrid, who has named the Dragon Norbert, Neville leans over to Hermione,
"Do you think Remus could get through to Hagrid?" Neville asks Hermione in a whisper.
"I don't know." Hermione admits, "Maybe." She says, "But I don't know if there is anything he could do even if he can get through to Hagrid." Hermione whispers back to Neville, but before Neville can respond Harry's voice cuts over their whispering.
"Charlie." He says, looking at Ron.
"You're losing it, too." Ron says, frowning at his friend, "I'm Ron, remember?"
"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." Harry suggests, and Hermione, Ron and Neville feel some relief at that, all thinking that it is a brilliant idea.
"Brilliant, how about it Hagrid?" Ron asks a Hermione and Neville both hope that Hagrid agrees.
"I'm not sure." Hagrid says, looking hesitant.
"Hagrid, think about it I know you want the best for Norbert and isn't the best thing for him to be somewhere where he can spread his wings? Somewhere he can be safe." Hermione suggests.
"I'm not…." Hagrid starts to say.
"You could visit him if he goes with Charlie." Neville reminds him.
"And he'd be able to spend time with other dragons." Ron adds.
"It's the best place for him, Hagrid. He'd be looked after there." Harry finishes, giving Hagrid a pleading look.
"Okay, you can send the letter." Hagrid reluctantly agrees and the four students all feel a sense of relief.
May 13th 1992
It has been a week since Hagrid agreed to send a letter to Charlie and ever since Hermione, Harry, Neville and Ron have all felt like time is moving slower as they are so close and yet so far to saying goodbye to Norbert.
It is Wednesday night and Harry, Hermione and Neville are sitting in the common room long after everyone else is in bed, when the portrait opens and Ron, who had been down at Hagrid's hut helping him feed Norbert, wearing Harry's invisibility cloak comes into the room.
"It bit me!" Ron tells the other three.
"That's really not good." Neville says with a frown and honestly Hermione and Harry have to agree.
"I'm not going to be able to hold a quill for a week. I tell you, the dragon's the most horrible animal I've ever met but the way Hagrid goes on about it, you'd think it was a fluffy little bunny rabbit. When it bit me he told me off for frightening it. And when I left, he was singing it a lullaby." Ron explains to the other three.
"You're kidding." Harry comments.
"I'm really not." Ron says and before anyone else can say anything there is a taping on the window,
"It's Hedwig, he'll have Charlie's answer." Harry says as he hurries over and lets Hedwig in, once he does he takes the letter and takes it back over to Hermione, Ron and Neville and the four of them put their heads together to read.
Dear Ron,
How are you? Thanks for the letter — I'd be glad to take the Norwegian Ridgeback, but it won't be easy getting him here. I think the best thing will be to send him over with some friends of mine who are coming to visit me next week. Trouble is, they mustn't be seen carrying an illegal dragon.
Could you get the Ridgeback up the tallest tower at midnight on Saturday? They can meet you there and take him away while it's still dark.
Send me an answer as soon as possible.
Love,
Charlie
"Are we really going to do this?" Neville asks, shocked, being the first one of the four to speak after they read the letter.
"I think we have to." Hermione says.
"We do." Harry confirms, "We've got the invisibility cloak." Harry reminds them, "It shouldn't be too difficult. I think the cloaks big enough to cover two of us and Norbert." He says and the Hermione, Ron and Neville all nod in agreement.
May 16nd 1992
Over the next few days Hermione, Harry, Neville and Ron once again learn that just because they have a plan doesn't mean everything is going to go according to it.
First, it became clear that Ron's bitten hand required medical attention and so he went to the hospital wing and while there he got a visit from Malfoy who threatened to make everything so much worse, and, on top of that, he took the book that has the letter from Charlie in it.
It is now Saturday and Hermione, Harry and Neville are in the common room, Hermione and Harry are about to leave to go down to Hagrid's to get Norbert.
"Malfoy could still be a problem." Neville comments, "I'm going to try and keep him away from the Astronomy tower." He comments, it being clear that he has made his decision and isn't going to be talked out of it easily.
"Nev, we only have one cloak. If you get caught you'll be in a lot of trouble." Hermione tells him, looking worriedly at him.
"You two having a clear path to the tower so that you can get Norbert away is more important. We can't let Malfoy ruin that." Neville tells his friends, wanting to do something to help.
"Neville…" Harry starts to say.
"I want to help Harry, and this important." Neville says, looking at him right in the eye, and feeling more confident than he has felt before as he wants to do this, he really wants to help.
"Okay, but you're coming under the cloak until we get to the entrance hall." Harry tells his friend as he hates that Neville is putting himself in a position to get in trouble but at the same time he understands it.
Twenty minutes later Hermione and Harry are down at Hagrid's hut while Neville is hiding in a place along the most likely rout Malfoy would take if he wanted to go to a teacher or catch Harry and Hermione out so that he can distract him.
"He's got lots o' rats an' some brandy fer the journey." Hagrid tells Hermione and Harry, "An' I've packed his teddy bear in case he gets lonely." Hagrid tells them as there is a sound from inside the crate that Hagrid has packed Norbert in that sounds, To Harry and Hermione as though the teddy was getting his head torn off.
"He'll be okay, Hagrid." Hermione says, trying to be reassuring, "But we've got to get going." She says as she looks at her watch and notices the time.
"Bye-bye Norbert!" Hagrid sobs a Hermione and Harry cover the crate with the invisibility cloak and then step under it themselves. "Mommy will never forget you." Hagrid says Harry and Hermione leave.
Honestly, if asked neither Harry nor Hermione would be able to tell anyone how they managed to get back into the castle and they definitely wouldn't be able to answer how they managed to get Norbert up all the stairs and corridors they have to travel down as even using short-cuts that they have learnt in the past few months doesn't make the journey easier.
"Nearly there." Harry pants as they reach the corridor beneath the tallest tower, but then, sudden movement makes them almost drop the crate. Forgetting that they are already invisible Harry and Hermione sink into the shadows staring at the dark outlines of two people about ten feet away. As a lamp flares it becomes clear that the two figures are Minerva, in a tartan bathrobe and hair net, and Malfoy who Minerva is holding by the ear.
"Detention." Minerva tells Malfoy, "And twenty points from Slytherin! Wandering around the school in the middle of the night, how dare you…." Minerva starts to say but Malfoy cuts her off.
"You don't understand, Professor, Harry Potter's comming, and he's got a dragon." Malfoy says.
"What utter rubbish! How dare you tell such lies! Come on, I shall see Professor Snape about you, Malfoy." Minerva says as she drags Malfoy away.
"I don't see Neville." Hermione says in a worried whisper.
"Maybe he realized Malfoy was about to get caught and went back to the common room, or he arranged Malfoy getting caught." Harry suggests, trying to make Hermione feel better, though he is saying what he hoped happened as he doesn't want Neville to be in trouble because of him.
"Maybe." Hermione whispers back, feeling uncertain and together the two of them start to climb the spiral stairs up, something that feels pretty easy after what just happened.
Once they are finally up on the tower and the cold night air hits them, Harry and Hermione throw off the cloak, both glad to be able to breath properly again, and as they do Hermione can't help but do a little dance as even though she is still worried about Neville she is glad that Malfoy has detention, especially after the ones Snape has given her this year.
"Malfoy's got detention, I could sing." Hermione comments.
"Don't." Harry advices as he suspects that things wouldn't end well for them if she did.
For about ten minutes Harry and Hermione stand together, both being happy about Malfoy getting caught but worried about Neville. After ten minutes Charlie's friends arrive on four broomsticks and they show Harry and Hermione the way they are going to carry Norbert before hooking the harness and flying off.
As they can't help it Hermione and Harry watch as Norbert is taken away before they finally head back downstairs, both feeling that with Malfoy in detention nothing could spoil their happiness, but as they step down into the corridor they find out just how wrong they are as Filch is waiting for them.
"Well, well, well, we are in trouble." Filch says and that's when it draws on Harry and Hermione, they've left the invisibility cloak on the tower.
Ten minutes later Harry and Hermione find themselves sitting in Professor McGonagall's study, both of them being well aware of how much trouble they are in. Even though neither say a word to each other they are both doing the same thing, trying to think of a way to explain what they were doing, but truth be told neither can think of anything, and Hermione is pretty sure that Minerva won't believe anything they have to say anyway.
Unknown to the other both Harry and Hermione they are in complete agreement about two things, one they were idiots for forgetting the cloak, and two, things can't get any worse, but they are both proven wrong when Minerva walks into her study leading Neville.
"Nev." Hermione says, her eyes widening as she was so hoping that Neville managed to get back to the common room.
"I'm sorry. I tried! He lost me and I don't know where he went and…." Neville starts to say but then Harry and Hermione quickly shakes their heads and Neville, realizing his mistake, quickly shuts up.
"I would never have believed it, any of you." Minerva says as while she is used to having Potter's, Lupin's, and Black's in her office because they broke rules she never expected it of Harry and Hermione, "Mr. Filch says you were up in the astronomy tower. It's one o'clock in the morning. Explain yourselves." Minerva says, looking at the three students and as she has no answer Hermione stares at her feet, being as still as a statue, "I think I've got a good idea of what's going on." Minerva says, "It doesn't take a genius to work it out. You three fed Draco Malfoy some cock-and-bull story about a dragon trying to get him out of bed and into trouble, and then, when you wanted to make sure he got caught, the three of you got separated." Minerva assumes, "I'm disgusted." She comments, "Four students out of bed in one night! I've never heard of such a thing before!"
"That's not true." Hermione mutters before she can stop herself.
"What was that Miss Granger?" Minerva asks.
"Nothing, Professor." Hermione quickly says.
"No, it was, what did you say?" Minerva asks her and seeing the look Hermione knows that she has to answer and she really wishes that she kept her mouth shut.
"I said that you have heard of four students out of bed before." Hermione says nervously, "You used to catch my fathers, Harry's Dad and their friend all the time." Hermione reveals, "Papa told me." She adds.
Hearing that Minerva realizes that something she has been suspecting for a while, that Harry knows about Hermione's real identity is correct,
"A true as that might be I expected better of you." Minerva says, telling the truth, and she makes a note to talk to Remus about the kind of stories he tells his daughter, "I thought you, and Neville, had more sense, and I thought Gryffindor means more to you than this Mr. Potter." Minerva says, "Nothing gives you the right to walk around school at night, especially these days, it's very dangerous." Minerva says, giving them all a stern look, "And seeing as how you seem to want to follow in your fathers footsteps all three of you can follow them right to detention. Fifty points will also be taken from Gryffindor." Minerva tells them.
"Fifty?" Harry says shocked, realizing that that would cause Gryffindor to lose the lead.
"Fifty points each." Professor McGonagall corrects.
"Professor please, you can't!" Harry objects.
"Don't tell me what I can and can't do, Potter. Now get back to bed all of you." Minerva says and the three of them head to the door, "I will also be writing your families." She says as the trio walk out, both Hermione and Neville's hearts filling with dread as they know how badly Remus and Augusta are going to react, how disappointed they are going to be.
May 18th 1992
Over the next couple of days, it becomes clear to Harry, Hermione and Neville just how cruel Gryffindor students can be as from the second the story of what happened to cause Gryffindor to lose all those points leak out the three of them get treated as outcasts. Though, as Harry is more well-known than Hermione and Neville it is worse for him.
For Hermione the worse part of everything hasn't hit but as she sits and eats breakfast on Monday morning she spots Omega and she knows that the worst part is coming.
Once Omega drops the letter in front of her Hermione finds herself unable to reach for it, she just stares,
"Are you going to read it?" Harry, who is sitting next to Hermione at breakfast asks.
"He's going to be so disappointed." Hermione tells Harry.
"He didn't send a howler, that's something." Neville tells Hermione, honestly that is what he is expecting from his Gran.
"He'd never send one." Hermione comments, "It's worse when he's calm." Hermione explains as she is pretty sure that she has never heard her father yell, but when he is calm she can hear the disappointment.
"Just read it, it will be worse if you keep avoiding it." Harry says, trying to be encouraging.
Taking a deep breath Hermione reaches over, with a shaky hand, and opens the letter.
Dear Hermione,
What on earth where you thinking? Being out of bed at night is one thing, but being on the Astronomy tower is another thing all together. There is no reason for you and Harry to have been up there alone at that time of night; I know this because I've tried to think of one.
If this was all a plan to get Malfoy into trouble then I am very disappointed in you Hermione, you should know better. I thought my stories would teach you the right and wrong way to do things like that and that was the wrong way. When you get home you better believe that we are going to be talking about this, I want to know everything, including what would cause you to do something like this.
Now, Minerva also informed me of how many points she took from Gryffindor so I know that things must not be very pleasant for you, Harry and Neville right now and all I can say is that over time the other students will move on, they always do, but this feeling should serve as a reminded if you ever think about doing something like this again.
Exams are coming up and I wish you the very best with them.
All My Love,
Papa.
As Hermione finishes reading the letter she finds herself feeling even worse about everything that has happened.
"Bad?" Harry asks once Hermione finishes reading the later.
"Really Bad." Hermione corrects and both Neville and Harry give her a sympathetic look.
May 25th 1992
Over the next week Harry, Hermione and Neville experience what it feels like to be despised by the entire school as not only are the Gryffindor's angry about the points that were taken away but the Hufflepuff's and Ravenclaw's are too as they felt that there was finally a chance that Slytherin would get beaten.
Honestly to Harry, Hermione and Neville it feels like the only friend, the only support they have other than one another is Ron, who was realised from the Hospital wing the day after Hermione received her letter. Though, if there is one thing that people's reaction to losing points, other than making her feel horrible, has done it is making Hermione nearly panic over how people will react when she starts to go by Lupin-Black, something which she is considering doing from the start of second year.
It Is a Monday night and Hermione is quizzing Ron and Neville on Astronomy in the library when Harry, who has been at Quidditch practice, joins them.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asks, being able to tell that something is wrong and Harry explains about a conversation he just overheard which sounded like Quirrell gave in.
"Snape's done it, then." Ron says once Harry finishes his explanation,
"If Quirrell's told him how to break his Anti-Dark force spell, then that means….." Neville starts to say, looking terrified.
"There's still Fluffy, though." Hermione points out, trying to focus on the good.
"Maybe Snape's found out how to get past him without asking Hagrid." Ron says, looking at all the books that are surrounding them, "I bet there's a book somewhere in here telling you how to get past a giant three headed dog. So, what do we do, Harry?" Ron asks, but it is Hermione who answers.
"We go to A... Dumbledore." Hermione says, hoping Ron hasn't noticed our slip, "That's what we should have done from the start." She says.
"You're the one who said that wasn't an option weeks ago, and you were right." Harry says, looking at Hermione, "We have no proof and Quirrell's too scared and Snape's too trusted. All he'd have to say is that he has nothing to do with what's going on and he'll be believed. After the way Snape's been treating us in class Dumbledore would think that we're doing this to get him sacked." Harry tells her, "We're not supposed to know about any of this, and we'll be the ones in trouble if we try to tell."
"I think you're right." Hermione admits, hating that, and so she tries to decide whether there is a way to write her Papa about what is going on without saying things that she wouldn't want to get into the wrong hands.
"Maybe we could just do some poking around…" Ron suggests as both Hermione and Neville look like they agree with Harry.
"No, we've done enough poking around." Harry says as he pulls a map of Jupiter towards him so he can start to study, believing that they are making the right choice, and making himself a promise that he won't get involved in anything he has no right getting involved in, he won't drag Hermione, Ron and Neville into it.
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