HI! So I'm sorry this one is short and all, but it was surprisingly hard to write. Anyhow, I posted a new story called When Life Gives You Chocolate and I would love to hear what you guys think of it. So be sure to check it out!

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and Favorited/Alerted. It makes my day to hear from you guys.

Enjoy!

EDIT: 2/1/2012

So this is the last one of the previously posted chapters. On to the new ones!...

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC's.

Chapter Twelve; To Love a Dragon

Riley had always wanted a dragon. When she was little she used to beg her parents for hours on end to let her get one. She always had an argument ready for the next time she would ask too.

It started with the fact that they were gorgeous creatures. Then it was that they could keep her warm in the winter, because of their natural heating system. Then when she got a little bit older, she even used the excuse that they could keep all the boys away so she wouldn't get cooties. (That one made Ted and Remus laugh until they cried.)

Unfortunately though, she never got one. But now, her dream would finally come true, sort of. Because Hagrid had a dragon egg.

The smooth black surface of the egg, made it look like a giant onyx stone. In her eyes— and in Hagrid's too— it was beautiful.

Riley squealed in a very un-Riley like way and got up to kneel by the fire.

"Oh, Hagrid. The egg is beautiful! Do you know what type it is? How did you even get one? Oh, this is amazing! I've always wanted a dragon. Can I help you take care of it when it hatches?" Riley babbled on, confusing Hagrid after about the second question because she was talking so fast.

The trio watched her in shock, having never seen her quite this excited before.

"Won it," Hagrid said attempting to answer her questions. "Las' night. I was down in the village havin' a few drinks an' got into a game o' cards with a stranger. Think he was quite glad ter get rid of it, ter be honest."

Riley couldn't even fathom why someone would want to get rid of such an epic creature.

"But what are you going to do with it when it's hatched?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"Well, I've been doin' some readin'." Hagrid said, pulling a large book from under his pillow. "Got this outta the library— Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit— it's a bit outta date, o' course, but it's all in here. Keep the egg in the fire, 'cause their mothers breathe on 'em, see, an' when it hatches, feed it on a bucket o' brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour. An' see here— how ter recognize diff'rent eggs— what I got there's a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare, them."

Hagrid looked very pleased with himself. Hermione on the other hand, looked torn between worry and disapproval. Worry seemed to win though, as she pointed out that Hagrid was living in a wooden house.

Riley immediately waved the statement away. "But that can be fixed with a charm. All he has to do is ask Dumbledore to fire proof his house."

Harry leaned towards Riley to whisper. "You're not helping."

Riley gave him a scandalized look. "Of course I am!"

Harry shook his head (he seemed to do that a lot around her). They had lost her to the dragon.

~{}~

The next couple of days Riley spent at Hagrid's, learning about how to take care of a dragon and planning what they could do to avoid the obvious issues— like the fact that the dragon was illegal.

Then one morning Batman landed in Riley's pumpkin juice with a letter from Hagrid. Eagerly she opened it and read: It's hatching.

Riley was so excited she skipped Herbology and ran down to his hut immediately. She got there just as Hagrid was pulling the rattling egg out of the fireplace and putting it gently on the table. Hagrid was so infatuated with the egg he didn't even notice that Riley should have been in class.

After about an hour of waiting, the egg was starting to crack and the trio showed up.

A funny clicking noise started to come from the egg. They all pulled their chairs closer and watched with bated breath.

All at once there was a scraping noise and the egg split open. The baby dragon flopped on to the table. Riley smiled, it was an amazing creature. Its wings were a bit too big for its body, and most people would find the big, bright orange eyes creepy. But to Riley there was no cooler creature.

"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid murmured. Riley was quick to agree. She watched as Hagrid reached out and pet the dragon's head. It snapped at his fingers, showing its pointed teeth.

"Bless him, look, he knows his mummy!" said Hagrid.

Riley laughed. "What will you name it, Hagrid?"

He was about to answer when the color suddenly drained from his face – he leapt to his feet and ran to the window.

"What's the matter?" Harry asked.

"Someone was lookin' through the gap in the curtains – it's a kid – he's runnin' back up ter the school."

The four first years bolted towards the door and looked outside to see a familiar blonde headed kid running up the hill.

It was Malfoy.

~{}~

The next couple of days Riley spent a lot of time giving Malfoy the 'Look of Eternal Pain'. George had told her once that she had an extremely scary glare and that was why he and Fred never got her mad. That ridiculously smug smirk he had on his face only grew larger every time he saw the look though.

Sadly, Riley realized if they didn't get rid of the dragon, Hagrid could get sent to Azkaban. So setting aside her love for dragons, she started to try convincing Hagrid to let the baby dragon go in the mountains somewhere. But he refused, saying stuff like; "He's only a baby, he can't live on his own."

Finally one night Riley, Harry, Ron and Hermione all set aside their differences and tried to work together. It didn't go well until Harry got an Idea.

Ron was just telling them how bonkers Hagrid had gone over the baby dragon, (Norbert, Hagrid had said it's name was.) when Harry turned to Ron suddenly.

"Charlie." He said triumphantly.

Ron looked at him oddly. "You're going bonkers too. I'm Ron, remember?"

But Riley who had caught on to what Harry was thinking, rolled her eyes at Ron. "No, stupid. Charlie. Your brother. He works with dragons—"

"We can send Norbert to him." Harry finished.

"Brilliant!" said Ron. "How bout it Hagrid?"

And after a little convincing, Hagrid agreed.

~{}~

The following week dragged by and despite telling herself she wouldn't get attached to the dragon, she did. Riley started to spend so much time down at Hagrid's; she started to fall behind on homework, causing her to spend her weekend doing nothing but homework.

Luckily she had the twins and Lee to help. Despite what people thought, they were very smart and good tutors.

At first the twins would ask what Riley was up to that took up so much of her time. But when she said telling anyone could get someone in way more trouble then they deserved, the twins backed off and stopped asking. Which Riley greatly appreciated.

She hated keeping stuff from them. It was one of their rules. They told each other everything. She even told them about her animangus form, and what happened to her mum and step-dad.

Even though this was a small thing, she figured the less people who knew the better. So she just told them that; after it was over, she would tell them everything.

Lucky for Riley though, the day it would be over came sooner then she expected.

She was sitting in a more remote corner of the library, finishing a nasty essay from Snape—she was making sure he would have to give her an Outstanding on it, or at least an Exceeds Exceptions, when Harry and Hermione sat down next to her.

"Riley, we need your help." Harry whispered.

Riley raised an eyebrow at them both. "Do you now?"

They may have put there differences aside for awhile, but Riley wanted an apology and she wasn't backing down till she got one. Fred, George and even Harry had told her she was being stupid and stubborn, but she didn't care.

Harry sighed. "Yes, and if you want to help Hagrid you need to listen."

Riley gave him a look. He was playing dirty. "Fine, go ahead. What do you need?"

~{}~

When Riley asked Harry what he had needed, this wasn't exactly what she thought he would want.

Riley, Hermione and Harry were carefully carrying a Dragon-In-A-Box (literally) up to the astronomy tower at midnight, under Harry's invisibility cloak.

Apparently Harry, Ron and Hermione had gotten their answer from Charlie the night before. They had planned to meet a couple of Charlie's friends, who were on there way back to the dragon reserve, at the top of the astronomy tower to hand off the dragon to them.

Unfortunately not only did Ron get bit by the poisonous fangs of said dragon, but Malfoy knew about their plan to get rid of it too.

So there they were, creeping through the cold halls, carrying a box longer then they were tall, hoping not to get caught. Luckily, Riley knew this part of the castle rather well, so they were able to take a couple of short cuts. But even so, the box was so heavy it made the walk seem like ages.

Riley was just starting to think her worry about getting caught with a dragon was for naught, when they saw a lamp flair down the corridor.

~{}~

Like I said it's short and a bit rushed. But don't worry better; longer chapters are soon to come. Review please :)