Harry and Ron were headed to Hagrid's. Hermione woulda come with, but she was busy revising. That just meant that it was best if Harry kept Ron distracted for a while. Ron had the unfortunate ability to destroy Hermione's concentration, which would lead to wrathful beatings with parchment and occasionally heavy books.

Hagrid hadn't wanted to let them inside his hut, and when Harry and Ron were inside, they were nearly suffocated by the stifling heat. It turns out that Hagrid had somehow, through frankly scurrilous means (that Harry's first encounter with him would have had him saying was impossible!), gotten ahold of a dragon's egg.

A Dragon's Egg.

Even Harry knew that was a bad idea. Hagrid's hut was mud and daub, but it had a thatch roof, and didn't seem terribly watertight without a roof.

Plus, DRAGON.

Harry and Ron did their obligatory oohing and ahhing over the dragon, before they hightailed it back to Hermione, to figure out just what Hagrid had gotten himself into. Ron might have been a git at first, but Hagrid's genuine niceness had won over the small redhead.

Hermione was not pleased, to say the least. Harry hated distracting her (even though he knew she'd wear herself to the bone studying), but this was Important. Hagrid was a friend, and Harry didn't want him living out in the Forbidden Forest. Or wherever a Dumbledore might stash a half-giant who'd outlived his usefulness. Harry hoped that didn't mean killing the poor oaf, although pushing him out into the Forbidden Forest might be tantamount to the same thing.

Harry thought he had things well in hand, until the next time he was out at Hagrid's hut, about a week later. Hermione had even come down, it had been such a nice day. Harry rapidly learnt - through nearly colliding with the flying dragon - that they didn't have any time at all to come up with a plan. And, a week later, this is obviously the time when Ron Weasley thinks to mention his brother Charlie. Obviously.

Worse, Harry swore he'd seen Malfoy skulking around behind them. The last thing they needed was to have Malfoy call his father, so Harry knew he had to implicate the slick git. But how? Harry wondered. Simply as pie, just ask for help.

Later, Harry followed Malfoy around, under his Invisibility Cloak. He smiled as Malfoy chose a deserted classroom - probably to practice some spells. Harry entered (Malfoy hadn't actually closed the door, but as it was a deserted hallway, that was probably just common sense.), and closed the door, making Malfoy jump.

"I know you saw us." Harry started.

"Yeah? And?" Malfoy said, proving once again what a sad-sack Slytherin he was.

"You want in?" Harry offered, "We could use some help..."

"What kind of help?" Malfoy said.

"Well, we've already got a home for the dragon..." Harry said, "But there's not all that much about proper safety precautions..."

Draco Malfoy straightened, "I could help with that, but what's in it for me?"

Harry smiled, "How would you like to see full fledged dragons, big as a house?"

Draco's eyes gleamed. "Done."

In the next two hours, Harry learned more than he ever wanted to know about spells for burns, dragonhide armor, and the proper use of bubblehead charms. How they were going to manage to get half this stuff, or learn the spells in time... It boggled the mind.

Draco Malfoy stuck his hands in his pockets, asking casually, "I suppose you'll need some help with the more custom items on the list."

Harry Potter nodded.

"I'll see what I can do," Malfoy said, gliding out of the room. "Neat trick with the cloak," he said, letting the words carry on the non-existent breeze.

[a/n: I was split on doing this, in the first place, adn then I was doubly split on letting Malfoy join in. Malfoy's still not friends with them, at all.

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