Chapter 86: Retrieving Norbert Part 2

The four rushed to Hagrid's hut, knocking on the door. The barking started, and the curtain drew. Noticing it was only them, the door opened. They rushed inside, pulling the cloak off. Norbert already packed and ready in a large crate.

"He's got lots o' rats an' some brandy fer the journey," Hagrid explained in a muffled voice. "An' I've packed his teddy bear in case he gets lonely."

From inside the crate came ripping noises that sounded to Harry and Phoenix as though the teddy was having his head torn off.

"Bye-Bye, Norbert!" Hagrid sobbed, as Harry and Hermione covered the crate with the invisibility cloak, while Ron eyed Norbert. "Mommy will never forget you!"

"Ron, why don't you head back to the common room?" Phoenix commented.

Ron looked over at Phoenix, dropping his shoulders. "Sorry, guys, I don't want to get bitten again."

"Don't worry Ron. We understand."

"Yeah, I'll make sure you get back, okay." Phoenix looked back at Harry and Hermione. "You two go, I'll catch up." as she and Ron left.

How Harry and Hermione got back up to the castle, they will never know. Midnight ticked nearer as they heaved Norbert up the marble staircase in the entrance hall and along the dark corridors. Up another staircase, then another - even one of Harry's shortcuts didn't make the work much easier.

"Nearly there!" Harry panted as they reached the corridor beneath the tallest tower.

Hermione saw a bundle of blue and white lights making her jump. Harry gave her a look before seeing Phoenix behind them with a finger on her mouth and pointing ahead of them. He saw the movement and nudged Hermione. They shrank into the shadows, staring at the dark outlines of two people grappling with each other ten feet away. A lamp flared.

Professor McGonagall, in a tartan bathrobe and a hairnet, had Malfoy by the ear.

"Detention!" she shouted. "And twenty points from Slytherin! Wandering around in the middle of the night, how dare you-"

"You don't understand, Professor. Harry Potter's coming- he's got a dragon!"

"What utter rubbish! How dare you tell such lies! Come on- I shall see Professor Snape about you, Malfoy!"

As they walked by, Phoenix went over to Harry and Hermione. "Hey."

"Hey, Phoenix, how did you make it up this fast?" Harry asked, pulling the cloak off of him and Hermione.

She looked at him blanked face. "I, um, played track?"

Harry looked at her but shrugged. He didn't remember hearing footsteps behind him, focusing on Norbert. Hermione, on the other hand, eyed her. 'Something is not right.'

Phoenix shrugged and looked at Norbert as if she couldn't remember his name. "The dragon? I mean he isn't lite. Plus, you have the crate."

While Harry was getting ready to pick up Norbert, Hermione walked over to Phoenix, pulling her aside.

"Wish Harry knew what you can do. We could have used it,"

Phoenix blinked.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked

"Er, yeah, just trying to figure out what you are talking about."

Hermione's suspension still held. "Your orbing powers. My arm hurts like crazy! Orbing to the roof would have helped. Are you okay? You don't act like yourself. Did Ron say something to you?"

'Ron? Oh right, the redhead!' "No, he didn't. Don't worry about me. I'm fine." Hermione was unconvinced.

"Guy's, we need to get going."

The two nodded. Hermione walked back over to the crate and joined Harry under the cloak. Phoenix walked ahead, making sure the coast was clear. It was not until they'd stepped out into the cold night air did, they throw off the cloak, glad to breathe properly again. Hermione did a jig.

"Malfoy's got detention! I could sing!"

"Don't," Harry advised her.

Chuckling about Malfoy, they waited, Norbert thrashing about in his crate. Phoenix's eyes grew big.

"Dragons are real! This is a real-life dragon! I wonder what it looked like when it was smaller."

Hermione and Harry looked at Phoenix as if she grew another head. "Phoenix, you have seen Norbert since he hatched." Harry stated.

"The dragon's name is Norbert?"

Harry blinked. "Did you hit your head? Did someone do a spell on you, or one gone wrong, and it hit you?"

Phoenix looked at Harry. "I'm sorry?"

"You are acting weird." Hermione commented. "You act like this is the first time you have seen Norbert."

Phoenix was about to reply until four broomsticks swooped down out of the darkness. "Okay, this is too good to be true. You ride brooms? This wasn't something she…" Phoenix stopped. "I mean, hey look! Charlie's friends are here!" Phoenix gave a smile, following Harry to great them.
'That is not Phoenix.' Hermione thought before joining the party.

Charlie's friends were a cherry lot. They showed Harry, Hermione, and Phoenix the harness they'd rigged up so they could suspend Norbert between them. They helped buckle Norbert into it and exchanged handshakes and thank you's.

Phoenix watched in amazement as Norbert grew smaller and smaller in the distance.

The three slipped back down the spiral staircase, Harry and Hermione, happy Norbert being gone, and Malfoy having detention. Phoenix listening as her mind was still in awe. 'Wait until I tell Chris and Melinda!' Phoenix thought before running into the back of Hermione. She looked up, seeing Filch.

"Well, well, well," he whispered, "we are in trouble."