13

Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback

In the following weeks Emily noticed Professor Quirrell seemed to be getting weaker. He didn't eat much at meals and appeared paler than usual. He was even more paranoid than before if possible and his hands often had a noticeable tremor to them. He had also moved places at the Head Table. At the beginning of the year he sat next to Professor Snape but he had now traded places with Professor Flitwick and was seated on the opposite end of the table next to Professor Sinastra. According to Marcus Flint, teachers never traded seats. This of course had the rumor mill supposing that Professor Snape not only intimidated the students but even the teachers were afraid of him.

Emily didn't necessarily buy the rumors, there were just so many. They seemed constant and ever evolving especially the ones the Weasley twins passed on. One even went so far as to say the Potions Master was in fact a vampire and he had been the one to turn the DADA teacher into a blubbering mess before the year even started. If that had been the case, why was he just being moved now? No one really seemed to think things through but at least Emily had Fred and George around for a good laugh as they conveyed the latest bit of gossip to her.

The year seemed to be passing quickly. There were only ten weeks until exams and the teachers had decided it was time they started heavy review work. The homework load was increased but Emily hardly noticed it. For the Easter holiday Narcissa had sent a box of sweets and chocolate eggs. She also had sent a formal letter inviting Emily to stay with the Malfoys for the summer holidays even saying her brother was welcome in their home as well. Emily knew that was Draco's doing, he understood Emily didn't want to leave her brother alone at the Dursleys but there was no way she was going back even if Harry refused to join them.

Emily was heading to the library one day when she nearly ran into Hagrid as he was leaving it. She found it odd that he hadn't even recognized her as he blurted out an 'excuse me' before continuing on his way. The witch was curious as to why Hagrid would be in the library, she watched as the giant nervously looked around him as he reached the staircase. Deciding to catch up to Hagrid to see if everything was alright, Emily made to follow the man. It took her a bit to catch up due to a few of the moving staircases but she finally caught up to him as he was walking out of the front doors towards his hut.

"Hey Hagrid!" she called trying to hide the fact that she was breathing a bit harder from her attempt to keep up.

"Oh hey Em, how yeh been?" As the giant smile down at her Emily could see dark circles under his eyes. The man looked tired, even his smile didn't reach his eyes like it usually did.

"I'm okay. How are you, you look a bit tired. Is there something I can help you with?"

Hagrid seemed to be thinking hard before deciding to answering her, "Could yeh brew me a coolin' potion? I know yer good with those and me huts a bit hot righ' now."

She nodded and followed Hagrid back down to his hut. He hadn't been joking his house was boiling.

As Emily set about making the potion she cast a temporary cooling charm in a corner of the hut. It wouldn't last long but it would give her just enough time to brew without her potion exploding all over her.

"Hagrid do you mind telling me why it's so hot in here?" She watched as his eyes flicked to the fire. She looked over there and noticed a huge black egg in the flames. "Oh Hagrid, you didn't."

"I won it las' night, down in the village."

"Hagrid."

"What? It's a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare yeh know, I couldn't say no ter a prize like that."

"It's a dragon."

"I know."

Shaking her head Emily let the topic go as she finished the potion. When she was done she ladled the potion into a few bottles and cleaned up her mess. "Okay, you are going to have to drink at least two at a time and they should last a few hours."

"Thanks Em."

"Anytime Hagrid, I will be by over the next few days to make sure you have enough," she paused for a moment. "Hagrid by law you can have that egg until it is safe to be moved. I know you really want a dragon but maybe you could consider sending him to a reserve when he gets a little larger."

"I wan' ter try and raise 'im first," the giant answered looking longingly back at the fire.

"Okay, well, just think about it and take the potion, this heat can't be good for you for long periods." Emily left the hut and made her way back up to the school. She passed Harry and his friends on her way but they didn't even seem to notice her they were in such a hurry. What was is with people not even seeing her today, usually Weasley at least had an insult for her. Shaking her head she decided to go to the library again to pick up the book she had been intending to check out before she was sidetracked.

Emily continued to bring Hagrid the potions, each time she wanted to say something to the giant but held her tongue. She figured it wouldn't take long once the dragon hatched for Hagrid to realize his house was not suitable for a such a large and dangerous creature. But as the days wore on Emily started to wonder if the egg would ever hatch until one morning at breakfast when Apollo dropped a note on her plate.

It's hatching.

"Hey Dray, can you cover for me in History if Binns somehow realizes I'm missing?"

"Um sure, but why?" She passed him the note she had received. He nodded in understanding.

"Thanks, you're the best," she said getting up to head to Hagrid's.

"I already knew that," he called after her.

Emily and Hagrid spent the morning talking and watching the egg begin to crack. It was almost out when there was a knock on the door. Hagrid got up to answer it and Harry and his friends were soon joining Emily by the egg. All of a sudden the scratching noise that the egg had been making all morning stopped and the shell broke open.

The baby dragon was cute. Emily could see why people revered these creatures. Its spiny wings were quite large and it had orange beady eyes. When the dragon sneezed, he released small sparks from his snout, one day those sparks would be fire. Hagrid kept saying how beautiful he was over and over. He made faces at the dragon and wiggled his large finger at him, Emily thought it looked cute yes but not that cute.

When Hagrid attempted to touch the dragon it snapped at his fingers which only seemed to make Hagrid happier declaring he knew who his 'mommy' was. Emily looked at Hagrid as if he had lost his mind, mommy? Hagrid didn't notice though, he was in his own world until Granger broke it asking how fast dragons grow. To Emily's knowledge a Norwegian Ridgeback would grow quite quickly. Hagrid opened his mouth to comment but something caught his eye and made him move to look out the window.

"Hagrid is something wrong?" Emily asked.

"Someone was lookin' into me hut through the window. I can't tell who it is. He's runnin' back ter the castle pretty fast." Emily moved to the door and knew who it was at once. Theo now knew about the dragon.

Emily stopped by to see Hagrid every day after the hatching, urging the giant to send the dragon to a reserve. Finally, one of the days during her visit Hagrid told Emily that Harry had written to Charlie, one of Weasley's older brothers who worked at the dragon reserve in Romania. They hadn't heard back yet but they were hopeful he would agree to take on Norbert.

It wasn't until Thursday that Emily received a note at breakfast.

Charlie said yes, he leaves Saturday at midnight from the Astronomy Tower.

Hagrid

She passed the note to Draco who looked relieved. "I'm glad that it is getting moved."

"I know, Theo seems quite happy lately. I just don't want him to have a reason to get Harry in trouble."

"He could get you in trouble too for helping," Draco pointed out.

"Yeah but he is too scared of me to attack me directly."

"I don't know that it's fear. I think it's more respect and the fact that you are living with me." It was now a well-known fact throughout Slytherin that the House of Malfoy would be taking in the witch.

"Whatever it is, he still won't come after me directly."

"Just be careful, Em."The girl merely nodded in acknowledgment of her best friend's worry as she continued to enjoy her breakfast.

The night Norbert was being moved Emily was unsure why Theo stayed up in the common room later than he usually did. The boy was usually back in his dorm by 10 but tonight he seemed to be playing chess with an upper classman. She supposed she was just a touch over thinking things as she knew what was happening in the castle that night. At eleven fifteen Emily slipped out of the common room and went to wait on the astronomy tower to help the others. She had heard Weasley had been in the hospital wing due to being bitten and couldn't help so she figured she would take his place.

Emily turned when she heard Granger's voice say that Malfoy had detention. The two Gryffindors stopped when they noticed Emily was waiting for them, it was a few moments of staring at each other before the silence was broken.

"What are you doing up here! Your best friend just tried to get us in trouble!" Harry exclaimed clearly not pleased to see his twin.

"What are you talking about? Draco knows I'm up here, he wouldn't try to set you up!"

"Well he did and we just watched McGonagall give him detention."

"Harry do we really have to fight?" Emily asked trying to change the topic she could figure out what was going on with Draco when she made it back to the common room. Looking over she noticed Granger looked rather uncomfortable. "Granger," she nodded acknowledging the girl.

The other witch waved at her with a tentative smile. Harry rolled his eyes at the exchange and moved to wait by the edge of the tower. The trio waited in silence until Charlie's friends got there. His friends were an entertaining lot who all worked together to get Norbert hooked into the harness they had rigged to their broomsticks to suspend the dragon while they were flying. Shaking hands goodbye the odd group took off with Norbert into the night. Emily, Harry and Granger waited to move until they were completely out of sight. Norbert was gone.

Harry grabbed for his friend and made to drag her down the tower.

"Harry wait!" Emily called out to her brother, surprisingly he stopped to look at her. "Are you still mad at me about the mirror?"

"It's not the mirror, I just don't think I know you anymore. You're a Slytherin, I'm a Gryffindor. There is a fine line there and not to mention your best friend just tried to get us in trouble so yeah I'm a bit mad at you." Granger didn't look pleased by her companion's words and mouthed 'sorry' to Emily but let Harry lead her down the staircase.

Emily walked to the middle of the tower and sat down staring out into the darkness, her eyes drifting to the stars every now and then. She didn't know how long she was sitting there when she felt a familiar magical signature. Turning she watched as Professor Snape stepped out into the cold air to join her before returning her focus back to stare out at the grounds. He approached her and without a word took the spot next to her. The pair sat in complete silence for a few minutes before the Professor spoke.

"Draco was worried about you."

"I'm fine."

"I see. You know I have just been told an interesting tale by Minerva who brought a disgruntled Draco to me. Maybe you would like to tell me about it."

"Hagrid had a dragon, now he doesn't."

"Very well and is there a reason for your tears..." Emily reached up and touched her cheek she hadn't even realized she was crying.

"I guess I have just realized that my brother is never going to accept me. To him I am just another snake. Not to mention he is sure you are trying to kill him so that doesn't help his outlook on our House."

"And why would I wish Mr. Potter dead?"

"I have no idea. He saw you go to protect the third floor on Halloween and then Granger noticed you performing the counter-curse on his broom during the first match. Thank you for that by the way."

"And how are you sure I was performing the counter-curse?"

"I have never trusted adults. They let you down a lot and they lie to you. But you have never lied to me and you have always helped Draco and me. Your magic is comforting, it tells me you won't harm me."

"My magic?" he asked raising his eyebrow at her.

"I can feel it. I can feel everyone's, the first night here it hit me like a wave. The castle's is strongest, it' feels alive."

"That is very impressive." They sat in silence for a few more minutes until Professor Snape stood up and extended his hand to her. On their walk back to the dungeons Professor Snape spoke with a slight smirk, "You will have to be punished for being out after hours and making me come find you." There was a hint of amusement in his voice that made Emily smile at the man.

"Can I just serve whatever detention McGonagall gives Draco?"

"Of course, I will let her know you will be joining him. Goodnight Emily."

"Goodnight Professor." When Emily entered the common room it was to find a frantic Draco wondering how she was. She told him everything that happened. In turn he told her that Theo had tipped off Filch and he had been trying to find her when McGonagall found him instead. She briefly wondered about her brother but decided it wasn't her problem. Emily informed Draco Professor Snape had found her and she would be serving detention with him. That night Emily was too exhausted to think anything other than thanking Merlin tomorrow was a Sunday and she could sleep in.