Over the next few days, Hermione had 'kindly' started writing up revision timetables for Harry, Ron, and Jack it was driving them mad – especially Jack who said to her after the 7th time she gave him his (the first 6 mysteriously vanished without a trace) if she gave him one more timetable he will freeze her solid until the exams are over meaning she wouldn't be able to do any of them.
At the thought of that, Hermione backs off only saying that she will not be to blame if Jack failed everything.
Then one morning, about a week after Hagrid had got the egg, Jack and Harry received some post at the breakfast.
Harry's was a note from Hagrid saying 'It's hatching'.
Jack a parcel holding a book on dragons written by someone called H. H. Haddock, which he quickly gave to Ron.
"There, I told you, you can train them," Jack said taking the letter that came with it and reading seeing it mostly said along the lines that they should meet up at some point and listed some top tips on how to look after baby dragons.
Amazed by Hagrid note and the book Ron looked in the book surprised.
"Better keep this from Hagrid then," Ron said giving it back "There are some in there I don't think even Charlie have come across. So are we going to see Hagrid or what?" he asked packing up.
"No we are not skipping Herbology," Hermione said glaring a little.
"Hermione how often are we going to see a dragon hatching?" Ron asked whining a little.
"We've got lessons, we'll get into trouble. And that's nothing to what Hagrid will be in when someone finds he got a -"
"Opstay oinggay onway aboutway ethay agondray*," Jack hissed jotting his head towards Malfoy who was a few steps away.
In the end, Hermione agreed that they could go down and see Hagrid after their lessons were over.
o0o
When the bell sounded from the castle, the four of them put down their trowels at once and hurried through the grounds to the edge of the forest, a very excited looking Hagrid was there to meet them.
"It's nearly out..." he said ushering them inside.
The egg was lying on the table. There were cracks along the shell, and it was shaking a little, smoke coming from them.
Quickly Jack grabbed everyone and pulled them to the floor as the egg exploded.
"Whoa..." Harry and Ron said staring at the little dragon as they came up again.
"How did you know that was going to happen?" Hermione asked.
"By friend works with dragons remember?" Jack said smirking "And if there's one think I remember about dragons is that 80% of the time the eggs explode when they hatch."
Compared to its wings, the body was tiny, Jack thought. But then it might be like with human eyes, they're the same size as they will be when it's grown up.
It sneezed and a couple of sparks flew out of its snout.
"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid murmured he reached out a hand to stroke the dragon's head. It snapped at his fingers showing pointed fangs.
"And another thing my friend told me was that dragons born with teeth already in their mouths have more venom than those that haven't, so try not to get..." Jack was saying when he stopped and raced to the window.
"No, no no no!" Jack said pulling out his wand and racing out the door.
Wondering what that was about, Harry looked out the window too and could see two shapes one, Jack and the other... Malfoy.
Jack was trying to get Malfoy's feet frozen before he reached the front doors but he had the head start and was almost there.
Mad Jack put as much power as he dared into this final shot and fired it.
But... his aim was off thanks to his anger and instead of hitting Malfoy it... unfortunately hit a passing by Professor Flitwick.
Quickly Jack raced over to undo the spell and Malfoy got away.
"Sorry Proffesor, I was aiming for someone else," he said once the Charms teacher was free.
"So, you was aiming to attack a fellow student with a spell like that Mr Frost?" Flitwick said in his squeaky voice. "A spell that may have killed them if it lasted longer or was more powerful than it was?"
"I was only aiming for his feet Professor," Jack said quietly – he hated being told off.
"You know the rules about using magic outside classes Jack," Flictwick said a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"To be fair sir the rule only says 'No magic is to be used in the hallways,' it says nothing about the grounds," Jack said trying to get this to be in his favour.
"Hmm, I suppose, Mr Frost," Flitwick said "So instead of 50 points from Gryffindor it will be 20 point. But you will still receive detention for attempting to use such a dangerous spell on a fellow student."
"Yes sir," Jack said sighing and watched as the teacher carried on his way.
After waiting for a bit Jack went to check the giant magic hour glasses that stood in the corner of the Entrance Hall to see the stats, Baby Tooth on his shoulder comforting him.
It was alright, Gryffindor was still in the lead, but only just.
Soon Harry, Ron and Hermione came in and they headed to their next class, which as luck would have it for Jack, was Charms...
Over the next week there was something about Malfoy's sinister grin that really uneased Harry, Ron, Hermione and Jack.
While the first three spent their time with Hagrid at his hut to try and convince him to let the baby dragon go, Jack spent it keeping an eye on Malfoy and making sure he didn't go to any of the teachers.
He was in fact at the moment coming up with a plan to keep him distracted with a prank.
"Ok, it needs to be big, but not too big, and it needs to be unable to trace back to me," he said to himself as he went over his notes and looked in his pranking stock pile, which only had one bag of feathers, a few dribble glasses, three instant 'I-Wish' pies – wish for the pie you want you get it, a few water balloons, and a handful of fake wind up spiders (the rest had been used on Ron a few weeks ago.
"Ugh! What can I possible do with all of this?" he asked lying back annoyed.
"You know Jack..." a voice said making him look around and saw April on the windowsill "You could always ask the Queen of Pranks, for assistance and extra equipment."
"I know, but seeing as your holiday is coming up in a few days I thought you would like peace and quiet to prepare." Jack said sitting up then remembering something asked April to wait while he got Fred and George "And please don't touch anything!" he said to April making her pout.
Heading down the stairs Jack found the twins in the common room doing *gasp...* homework.
"Hey guys, want to see another one of my friends?" Jack asked in a whisper.
"Sure," they said together, packed up and went upstairs.
"April?" Jack called out before slowly opening the door and looking around. Seeing everything was fine they went inside seeing her on Jack's bed.
"Fred and George Weasley, allow me to introduce, the Queen of Pranks herself April Fools," Jack said grinning, which got bigger along with an eye roll when the older boys got to their knees and said together:
"Your Highness, we are not worthy to be in your presence."
"Maybe not," April said poofing herself up a very queenly looking outfit complete with crown and scepter "But it appears you are worthy enough to be born on my holiday, which is why you have more sense of fun than the rest of your family."
"Wait, what?" Jack asked surprised "You two were born on the first of April?"
"Yep!" they said grinning and getting back up.
"So, Jack, what exactly do you want to do to this 'Mouth-oy' boy?" April asked returning to her feminine jester's outfit yet wearing a pair of thick rimmed glasses and holding a clipboard. "And why?"
"Well," Jack said playing along and jumping onto his bed and lying back "Somehow Hagrid got a dragon egg and when it hatched Malfoy saw it and knows of it's existence. I was hoping, that if I prank him, he would forget about it. But I already have a detention because I tried to freeze him, so it can't be too big, or be able to get get tracked back to me."
"Hmm..." Fred said sitting on Harry's bed, looking at George.
"Well you know, if it's needed we could try and send the dragon to Charlie," George said.
"And that means it will be gone, which means Malfoy can't blackmail you lot anymore." Fred continued.
"Ok, I'll suggest that, from how are we meant to handle the brat until then?" Jack asked.
"I'm sure Fred and George can do something about it, they're not already in trouble you see," April said explaining, and throwing away her glasses and clipboard which had a game of tic-tac-toe on it. "And for extra help, here's a new box of stuff. But... I suggest you wait a few days until my holiday – less, less of a chance you getting into trouble seeing that that's supposed to be the day of pranks."
"Yes your highness," the Twins said bowing and accepting the box.
"Good grief..." Jack said rolling his eyes and waving April goodbye.
AN: *Pig Latin for 'Stop going on about the dragon.'
Sorry it's a little late, I've been having trouble with my internet/wifi
Please tell me what you think, and if you see any mistakes please tell me so I can fix it
