Norberta Norbertson
Written for:
A Drabble a day keeps the doctor away challenge by Bamberrr.x.
The Worlds Challenge by TrisanaChandler13 – Pern – Write about Dragons.
Character: Charlie Weasley.
There was a scuffling at the door, followed by a sharp knock. Charlie Weasley let out a sigh as he dropped his quill onto the reports on his desk, opened the door and stood back as his two friends – looking extremely wet and wild – stumbled inside, carrying a large box between them.
"Ve haff the dragon vith us," panted Hilarian as he helped his mate deposit the box on the large table that had been prepared for it by the fire. "Your brother Ron could not meet us at the tower because he vas in the 'ospital ving, but his friend Harry vas there vith the fellow."
"How did he behave on the flight home?" Charlie asked, interestedly surveying the box which looked quite the worse for wear, with several tiny holes on the top, a large tear on one side, and tendrils of smoke curling up from beneath the lid.
"He is a feisty one," Horia, Hilarian's companion replied, as he helped Charlie and Valerian to disassemble the box, and free the baby inside. "They said his name vas Norbert – it is a very odd name to giff to a dragon, I think."
The men watched warily and quietly as the last flap fell off with a thunk, to reveal a small, scaly, slightly crumpled brown and black form. Beady black eyes looked around curiously. Charlie jumped back as a tiny spurt of fire shot out of the baby dragon's nostrils. Bits of fluff and cotton, which were obviously the remains of a teddy bear rolled off his back and fell in a heap around his wings.
"He's a bit vicious, isn't he?" piped up a new voice, and the fourth occupant of the room, who had been watching the proceedings from afar, stepped forward to look at Norbert. "I didn't think such a tiny fellow could demolish a stuffed toy so quickly."
"Careful," cautioned Charlie, as the aforementioned occupant, his new assistant – a pimply, shock-headed youth of eighteen, nicknamed "Junior" for no apparent reason – held out a small bowl of brandy and chicken blood to the tiny dragon.
Norbert sniffed it suspiciously for a moment, and then began to lap up the concoction thirstily, wriggling his wings with enthusiasm.
"It's a girl!" Junior said suddenly. He was watching the dragon closely.
"What?"
"Norbert isn't a boy, she's a female." Charlie stared, following Junior's pointing finger. Sure enough, as the dragon moved, a tiny teat came into view on her underbelly. Charlie groaned.
"Brilliant now. He turns out to be a She. Hagrid should have checked properly before he sent her on here," Charlie grumbled. "We'll have to change her name, too. But she only answers to Norbert now, what are we supposed to do?"
"Ve can call her Norberta," Horia supplied. "It is close enough to Norbert, and she vould not notice the difference."
"Yeah! That's right – Norberta Norbertson!" Junior exclaimed, beaming. He then warily held out his hand to her. The newly christened dragon raised her head and snuffled into Junior's palm. She obviously approved of her new name.
Charlie snorted.