A/N: As usual, Super MKatR, my beta, did a wonderful job beta reading this chapter.

Chapter 19 – The Norwegian Ridgeback Dragon

Harry now had a new friend in Neville and they were spending a lot more time together. They were studying together and Harry was helping Neville perform with the wand. Neville was working harder than Harry expected and was making significant progress. They began to duel together with the intention of helping Neville defend himself against Malfoy and his mates. But as it turned out, they were also having lots of fun, because one of them would end up with locked legs, hoisted into the air by the ankles or a laughing hysterically as a result of a well-done Rictusempra.

However, that didn't mean that Harry didn't miss Ron and Hermione and he was beginning to believe that they missed him too. After the last Quidditch game of Gryffindor against Hufflepuff, Ron looked as he was going to talk to Harry, but then he remembered he was still upset and gave up. In that game, the Hufflepuffs suffered a devastating defeat after Harry caught the snitch in less than five minutes. The win was particularly good for the Gryffindors, because Snape had been the referee. Most of the students thought that Snape was going to impair Gryffindor, but Harry realised that he was there to protect him. Dumbledore himself was present at the game, which meant that he was fulfilling his promise of ensuring the students' safety, yet he hadn't revealed who had attacked Harry in the first game.

Everything went smoothly for a few weeks. Harry had had another sighting of Pettigrew in the Marauder's Map during that time, but the rat had left the grounds and Harry couldn't follow him. The idea that the real traitor of his parents could be on the loose gnawed his insides. Harry contemplated the possibility of talking to Dumbledore or McGonagall, but he didn't have any proof and he feared the adults wouldn't give proper value to his concern. Besides, he would have to turn in the Marauder's Map and he wasn't ready to lose it.

The smooth days ended when, while Harry and Neville were revising for their exams in the common room, Hedwig brought a note that said, "You need to see this – Hagrid". They went to Hagrid's hut and found that he had an egg from a Norwegian Ridgeback Dragon. Hagrid had won it in a game of cards with a stranger. Harry understood Hagrid's fascination at the creature, but he couldn't stop thinking in the problems a dragon would brought on the grounds of Hogwarts. It took weeks to convince Hagrid that his new little pet couldn't stay there.

'How can you and Hermione be mad at each other and yet still think the same way?' Hagrid once complained. 'She keeps pushing that subject.'

'Well, I never said she wasn't smart.' Harry commented. 'But think, Hagrid, Norbert is already too big for your hut and if someone finds about him, you won't be able to protect him.'

'We can ask for help from Professor Dumbledore.' Neville suggested. 'I think he would want to help.'

'NO!' Hagrid's tone was conclusive. 'Professor Dumbledore has already too many problems to deal with. I don't want to let him down by causing him more trouble.'

'What about Charlie Weasley?' Harry asked. 'He's in a dragon reserve in Romania, we can ask him if he can keep him.'

'I… I guess, maybe that could do…' Hagrid reluctantly agreed. Although it was best, he was going to miss his pet dearly.

Ginny quickly volunteered to handle all the negotiations and Harry sent Hedwig to the Burrow with the instruction of delivering any mail she needed. Ron also knew about the dragon, but he never visited Hagrid while Harry was there, so Harry never let him know about his plans. A few days later, Ginny got a reply from Charlie; he had agreed to help. A meeting in the Astronomy Tower at midnight was settled for the following Saturday. However, Harry's plan was disrupted when Neville ended up in the hospital wing, because of an ugly dragon's bite.

Harry could try to take the box with the little dragon all by himself to the Astronomy Tower, but it was too risky to do it alone even with the cloak and the map. He needed help, so, the night before the scheduled meet with Charlie, Harry approached Ron and Hermione in the common room. The two friends were seated in one of the tables in the common room, doing their revisions. Better said, Hermione was revising and Ron was practicing different grimaces of boredom and suffering. Harry sat in front of them without asking permission.

'I need your help.' He bluntly said.

Ron faced him with an air of superiority. 'I'm sorry, but this studying group has already been filled his space with genius students.'

Harry rolled his eyes with impatience. 'I don't need help to study for the exams, 'He explained, lowering his tone of voice.' I need help to solve Hagrid's little problem. You know? The one full of scales and breathes fire?'

That captured Hermione's attention. 'You convinced him to get rid of that thing?'

'Yes, now I need to send it to Charlie. Hagrid doesn't want to tell Dumbledore, because he believes the Headmaster will be disappointed with him.'

'Charlie? Charlie who?' Hermione asked.

'Charlie, Ron's brother.'

'Anything to get rid of that animal.' Ron agreed. 'I'll write to Charlie if it's that you wanted to ask.'

Harry felt a little guilty at that point. 'It's not exactly that. Ginny already wrote to Charlie and he agreed. He's sending a group of friends to collect Norbert tomorrow at midnight in the Astronomy Tower, but I can't do it alone.'

'Ginny's involved in this?' Ron asked, angry.

'Yes, she is.' Harry firmly answered. 'You know she's my friend. We've talked about that before.'

'I thought we were your friends and still only now we're hearing about that story.' Ron argued.

'Yes, but that was before you got mad, because of my good grades!'

The two boys stared at each other angrily until Hermione cleaned her throat. 'Hmm, we can help you.' She said.

Ron turned to her. 'We can?' He asked.

'Well, if you don't want to help… but I want to!' She said. 'It's for Hagrid, too!'

'Fine.' Ron agreed, sulkily.

'How are we going to do this?' Hermione asked.

'We'll meet here at eleven o'clock. I'll bring the cloak and the map. When everybody goes to sleep, we'll leave.'

'Ok.' The two friends agreed.'

The process of transporting a dragon went relatively well with the invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map. The cloak could only cover two of them and the box, where the dragon was. Therefore, Harry had to count on the map. He cast a weak Levitation Charm in the box, so that it would become lighter and easier to carry, and he let Hermione and Ron take the dragon protected by the cloak. All the time, Harry monitored the Marauder's Map, while he closely followed Ron and Hermione. They had to diverge twice from their way to the Astronomy Tower to avoid being caught by some teacher that was doing his round, but besides that, everything went well.

Charlie's friends were very cool. They didn't look concerned at all about needing to leave the country carrying an illegal dragon. They arrived mounted on brooms and were able to tie the box between them with some cords. The children thanked them for their help and saw with satisfaction Norbert, the Norwegian Ridgeback Dragon, leaving forever.

Harry grabbed the invisibility cloak that was on the floor. Now he could return, under it with Ron and Hermione. He glanced once more at the map just to guarantee that the way back was safe. Then, he saw. Peter Pettigrew had once more showed up on the seventh floor, not far away from Harry was an the moment.

Without thinking in anything else, Harry ran as fast as he could. Ron and Hermione, alarmed by his behaviour, shouted, calling him. When he never replied, they decided to follow after him. Harry went down the tower stairs, skipping over the steps two at a time, but he was on the wrong side of the corridor. He ran and ran until he didn't have air in his lungs. He was so close, when someone jumped in front of him. Before Harry could stop, they bumped into each other and fell to the floor. It was Filch and from the look on his face, it looked like Christmas had come early. They were in trouble. Harry barely had time to inactivate the map and hide it in his robes, before the caretaker grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.

'What are you doing out of bed, insolent boy?' When Filch saw Ron and Hermione, the man beamed. 'Just look! Three bunnies out of the hole.'

Minerva McGonagall was very upset for having to get out of bed, because of unruly students. In her office, wearing a nightcap and a Scottish robe, she looked like she was about to spit fire. 'Three students of mine out of bed running like a bunch of wild hippogriffs in the corridors at one in the morning. What do you have to say for yourselves?'

Ron and Hermione were terrified by the possibility that the dragon's story would be revealed and seemed to look for a way to bury their heads in the floor. Harry didn't want Hagrid or his friends punished, who were caught due to his insanity. So, he began telling the first story that came to his mind. 'It's my fault, Professor!'

Minerva faced him. 'I thought you were becoming a more responsible student, I have my doubts.'

'But it was important, Professor.'

'What can be so important at such hour at the night?'

'Peter Pettigrew, Professor.'

Ron and Hermione stared at him, confused, while Minerva was absolutely incredulous. 'Go on.'

Harry took a deep breath and began talking. 'After that time we talk about Pettigrew, I researched about his death. I saw the old editions of the Daily Prophet, Professor, and the story they tell about Pettigrew's death is full of holes. For instance, how can a man being blown up in little pieces to the point that only a finger is left, but his clothes were recovered practically intact. Without telling, that in that day, Pettigrew shouted to the whole street to hear that Sirius Black betrayed my parents, and both of us know that isn't true. I have given this a lot of thought and I believe it was all a frame from him and that Pettigrew is still alive.'

'Harry Potter, you aren't making any sense. See, if that is a tale not to be punished…'

'I'm not making it up, Professor.' Harry boldly interrupted. 'It just so happens that I know that Pettigrew is an illegal Animagus.'

Minerva widened her eyes. 'Pettigrew wasn't so talented.' She observed.

'But my dad was. He was also an Animagus and it was him who helped Pettigrew become one. My dad was a stag and Pettigrew is a rat.' Harry intentionally left Black out of it. 'I think he escaped that day in his rat form and he has been hiding since then in his Animagus form. He's currently running around Hogwarts.'

'How could he be at Hogwarts?' Minerva now seemed intrigued by the story.

'Ron's rat, Scabbers, has been in his family for ten years. A normal rat wouldn't live that long. He has a finger in his forepaw missing and I'm sure he's Pettigrew. But Scabbers ran away months ago, he's still in the castle and I'm trying to catch him. Ron and Hermione didn't know anything until now. I left in the middle of the night to catch him and they were trying to stop me.'

Minerva walked over one of the chairs in her office and sat down. 'Merlin knows you have inherited the talent of your father's of giving me headaches, Harry Potter.' The Professor rubbed her tempers. 'I'm not saying whether or not I believe you, but I'll take your concern to the Headmaster. However, your way of solving the problem was totally unacceptable. There's no excuse for students being out of bed. You, Harry, will lose fifty points, which may or may not be returned.' She turned to Ron and Hermione. 'You won't lose points this time, but all of you will have detentions. I'll inform you later about the date and time. You're dismissed.'

A/N: Hello! I'm so glad that so many people are enjoying this story as I am. Whoa! More than 100 reviews, almost 300 hundred followers and more than 150 favourites. Thank you all so much!

The title of the next chapter is The Forbidden Forest.

scrappy8: Thank you! And thanks for reviewing every chapter. Harry and Neville will be good friends.