Disclaimer 1: This is fanfic. That means I do not own any of it. I just borrow it to play with for a little while and let people see the pathetic results if they really want to.

Disclaimer 2: I'm not making any money from it. It's just for fun.

Disclaimer 3: What isn't borrowed is all made up. None of this is real or most likely at all realistic. Please don't trust any of the information in here. Most likely you know more about whatever I'm writing about than I do.

Disclaimer 4: Attitudes, views and opinions expressed by the characters or in the story are not necessarily those of the author. Even when writing Science Fiction or Fantasy I do not tend to attempt to create perfect/better worlds in which everybody gets a happy end ... or whatever is best for them. Please accept that some characters will have a bad ending or be unhappy.

Disclaimer 5: I intend no insult to anyone. If I offend anyone I'm very sorry. Please understand that it was an accident as I tend to be very clumsy in these things.

Notes: No need for Draco to sneak up on them to see the dragon, but I do need to get all of them into the forest anyway ...

Chapter 14: Norbert, the Norwegian Ridgeback

"There are other kinds of debt, too," Hermione explained to them after Harry had told his story. "This sounds like Quirrel owes Snape for some favour Snape has done him. And what Snape wants in return is that Quirrel helps him steal the Philosopher's stone, but Quirrel knows that stealing is wrong, of course, and doesn't want to do it."

"He's scared, though," Ron said. "He'll give in."

But for the moment the stone still seemed to be there.

"He doesn't know how to get past Fluffy," Hermione theorised. "And there are probably spells guarding the stone, as well."

It was Easter by now and at Hermione's insistence they had started revising for their exams.

"We've been here half a year after all," she said. "Another six months and we'll be in second year."

"And no longer be the youngest," Draco added. "I can't wait!"

To their surprise they found Hagrid in the library one day and Hermione made use of the occasion to question him about the defences of the Philosopher's stone.

"Hush!" Hagrid shushed her. "Don't talk about that here. Come to tea at my hut where nobody can overhear us."

Even there he didn't really want to talk, though, and Hermione and Draco had to exert all their cleverness just to get him to tell the names of the people that had helped Dumbledore to protect the stone.

"Well, the heads of the houses, of course: Flitwick, Sprout, McGonagall and Snape, and Quirrel as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He's the expert after all. And then there's me with Fluffy."

It was awfully hot in Hagrid's hut, because he was hatching a dragon egg in his fireplace and those mustn't get cold.

"It's a Norwegian Ridgeback," Hagrid told them proudly. "I won him at cards."

"But that's illegal," Draco protested. "Hagrid, you could go to Azkaban for keeping a dragon!"

But Hagrid couldn't be convinced to extinguish the fire and let the poor little dragon die. He'd always wanted his own dragon.

At first Harry and his friends were fascinated, too. They all came to see him hatch and had a little ceremony when Hagrid decided to name him Norbert.

However they soon had to realise that there was a problem. Norbert grew rapidly and soon began to threaten to outgrow the little hut. He breathed fire and was getting more and more aggressive.

"It's not safe to keep a fire-breathing dragon in a wooden hut, Hagrid," Hermione said one day.

"And where else will you hide him when he no longer fits in there?" Draco asked. "People will notice the fire if you just leave him out in the forest."

"My hand's swelling up," Ron whined. "I think he's poisonous."

Harry looked worriedly at his friend. If Norbert's bite had indeed poisoned him, he'd need to go to the hospital wing and how would they explain that?

"I can't just abandon him somewhere," Hagrid explained. "He's just a baby. He'd die."

"Aren't there nursery institutes for dragons?" Harry asked.

"There are preserves, but not in England," Hagrid replied. "I think Charlie, the former Gryffindor Quidditch captain went all the way to Romania to work at one."

"Well, maybe he could take Norbert," Harry suggested, but they didn't have Charlie's address.

That evening Ron was feverish and Harry and Hermione escorted him to the hospital wing despite their misgivings.

"A dog bit him," Hermione told the nurse, Madame Pomfrey, who tutted and gave them a lecture about touching such filthy and dangerous things as animals.

"Especially strays. There's no telling where they might have been and what diseases they might carry. All dogs should be put down, really ..."

Harry and Hermione nodded and agreed with everything she said and finally left Ron in her capable hands.

"Oliver probably knew Charlie," Hermione said on the way back to Gryffindor tower. "He might know his address and you know Oliver."

And so after a very restless and worried night Harry approached his captain and confided Hagrid's secret in him.

"That's just so typical," Oliver laughed. "Hagrid is always in some kind of trouble over a monster. Alright, I'll owl Charlie Weasley. He'll have a good laugh over this."

Luckily Charlie was also willing to help and a few days later Harry, Hermione and Draco dragged a huge basket containing a heavy and annoyed baby dragon up the stairs of the astronomy tower at midnight. They had meant to use Harry's invisibility cloak, but unfortunately it couldn't cover all three of them and the basket and so they had to sneak very carefully.

Charlie Weasley had sent four adult wizards on brooms who had a good laugh at the basket and provisions Hagrid had provided for Norbert. They loaded the little dragon into a fire-proof crate instead and took off with him.

Very relieved the three students ran back down the stairs ... and straight into the arms of Argus Filch.