Chapter 8

In the weeks that followed, we became much more on edge. We always pressed our ears to the door of the third-floor corridor to check Fluffy was still growling whenever we passed. Luckily though, Quirrel seemed to be holding out longer than anyone could have expected.

Hermione and I had more on our minds than just the Philosopher's Stone. Hermione had started drawing up exam revision timetables for the both of us. (I agreed to join her because we were both in need of the private time together, and there is never any harm in studying too early. The boys thought differently though.)

When he found out, Ron asked flabbergasted at why we were studying so early. We explained how there were only ten weeks left, and that we, unlike them, wanted to pass our exams and get into second year.

The teachers were thinking similarly to us, and piled mountains if homework upon us, making the Easter holidays much less fun than the relaxing Christmas ones for everyone. The four of us were in the library one day, researching among the quiet shelves, when Hagrid appeared near us. He was obviously trying to discreetly look among the shelves for something, but wasn't achieving his goal very well. We attempted a bit of conversation as he left, Ron even told him how we knew about Flamel and the Stone, but Hagrid hushed us at the subject, before leaving hurriedly.

Intrigued, Ron searched the shelves around where Hagrid had been looking. He came back, carrying a bundle of books. "Dragons! That was what Hagrid was looking up!" He showed us two books: Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland and From Egg to Inferno, A Dragon Keeper's Guide.

"Well, these aren't the best books to look in. They're exceptionally outdated! I know of much better works in which to find this information!" I said, and received confused faces from the others. I shrugged.

Harry explained about how Hagrid had always wanted a dragon. Ron then told us how breeding dragons was illegal on this country, and that they were almost impossible to tame. It was one of the few subjects he knew anything important about, as his brother Charlie worked with dragons in Romania. Harry and Hermione were shocked at the revelation of there being wild dragons in the UK, having both been raised by muggles. We were all, therefore, very confused about what Hagrid was doing.

We went down to his hut later that day, as we had agreed between the four of us that we needed to have a serious conversation with him about everything that was happening. As we stepped through the door Hagrid held open for us, we walked into a wall of heat. A fire was blazing in the fireplace, and none of the windows appeared to be open.

When we sat down, we weren't offered with the usual rock cakes, adding the oddity of the situation. We first started conversation started with the Philosopher's Stone, and Hermione managing to wangle some mire information out of him through a perfect use of flattering. We found out that other teachers - including Snape! - were helping to guard the Stone. We also discovered that Hagrid was the only teacher who knew how to get past Fluffy, apart from maybe Dumbledore.

Conversation then quickly changed as Harry finally asked to open a window due to the immense heat. Hagrid refused, stealing a quick glance at the cauldron hanging in the fireplace. Harry noticed too, saying, "What is that?"

I knew though, and I think he might have too. Inside the cauldron sat a large black egg: a dragon egg. My eyes brightened, as dragons were absolutely fascinating.

Ron asked a question, "Where did you get it from? They're so expensive!"

Hagrid looked quite pleased with himself, "Won it. Last night. Down the pub." I realised Hagrid won a lot of things at the pubs in Hogsmeade, the nearby village.

Hermione questioned what he was going to do with it after it hatched.

"Well, I've been doin' some readin'," He pulled Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit out from under his pillow, before listing off a couple of facts that were surprisingly accurate for when the books had been written: leave eggs in the fire because dragon mothers breathe on them, and feed hatchlings a mix of chicken and brandy every half an hour (this was questionable). He had also correctly identified the egg as a Norwegian Ridgeback, saying they were rare. (I couldn't help myself from recommending him a few better books, though.)

He looked very smug and proud of himself, although Hermione thought differently, "You live in a wooden house, Hagrid."

However, Hagrid didn't care.

So now we had another thing to worry about, as if the stress of exams and the fear for the Philosopher's Stone wasn't enough. Fortunately, Harry had the ingenious idea of getting Ron's brother Charlie to help us. Charlie worked with dragons in Romania, at a sanctuary, and would safely be able to take care of Norbert (as Hagrid had called him) as part of his work.

Ron wrote to his brother, and it was arranged that Norbert would be collected from the astronomy tower a week later. It was just our luck however, that Malfoy overheard one of our conversations planning the night. Because of this, when we heaved the box in which Norbert was temporarily housed in up to the astronomy tower, Malfoy must have sneakily climbed out of bed, and told Professor McGonagall of our plans of traipsing the corridors at night.

As Charlie and his friends had collected Norbert and started their return journey to Romania, we started our trek back to the Gryffindor common room and dormitories. Unfortunately, McGonagall knew of our activities, and so cornered us in the corridor just before the fat lady. Ron had luckily been able to avoid detection as he had hung back at the astronomy tower in order to talk to Charlie.

We were quickly escorted to McGonagall's office, where we found Malfoy waiting, a smug look plastered over his face. We were given a stern and angry lecture by our head of house, before having fifty points removed from us each, totalling one hundred and fifty points lost from Gryffindor. (Malfoy lost fifty points too, as he had also been wandering the corridors at night, despite his 'good' intentions. It wouldn't matter though; he'd quickly regain them all from Professor Snape through favouritism.) To add insult to injury, we were then given detention together the next week, not making ourselves feel any better.

We were then hurriedly dismissed, as if McGonagall couldn't wait to see the back off us.