As the Easter holidays rolled around, it wasn't long before Hermione began to kick up a fuss about how close it was until the end of year exams. Despite Ron's complaint about it still being ages away, Hermione was insistent that they begin studying in earnest. Harry, Penny, and Neville weren't truly invested in either side of the argument, but the amount of extra homework the teachers began to assign indicated they were in agreement with Hermione's assessment. As a result, the group could often be found studying together in the library in preparation for exams, as well as to do homework together.
Somehow, the group always found themselves taking the same positions around the same table in the library whenever they were studying or working together. Ron and Hermione would sit on one side of the table, with Hermione to Ron's left where she could easily glance over and point out where he'd made an error without getting in the way of his writing, something Ron was much more sanguine about ever since Penny showed him a charm that her mother had taught her to erase ink from parchment. He no longer had to do an entire scroll over because of a mistake, which made making them much less frustrating. Neville would sit across the table from Ron, with most of his focus on developing his practical skills. Managing to successfully talk back to Professor Snape a few months prior had drastically increased Neville's confidence in himself, leaving him more able to handle the theoretical knowledge, so his wand's lack of meaningful performance was the greater concern to him.
Harry sat to Neville's right...with Penny sitting side-on in his lap, giving the impression she was sitting between Harry and Neville despite the lack of a chair. She kept her tail wrapped around Harry's shoulders in a fluffy hug even as the two of them worked together on the work before them, one arm around each other while their outside arms held their work and did the writing. Every so often, one of the other three would glance towards them with bemused expressions, though for some reason Neville's expression sometimes seemed somewhat melancholy. He usually looked away from them afterwards.
As a result, it was Neville who noticed the unexpected visitor to the library and drew attention to them. "Hagrid?" he called out in surprise, making the giant of a man startle. "What are you doing in here?"
"Jus' lookin'," Hagrid replied evasively, glancing back and forth uncertainly as the entire group turned to face him. "What about you lot?"
"Homework," Harry replied sardonically, raising the papers they were working on. "But we could probably use a break. What were you looking for? Something about the creatures on the grounds?"
"Someat like that..." Hagrid allowed uncertainly. "Still, shouldn't interrupt yer studying, good study habits are good fer ye. Found what ah needed, anyway-"
As they'd been talking, Penny's nose had twitched, a frown on her face. Shifting more towards squirrel, she took a few more sniffs only for her eyes to widen. "Hagrid?" she asked curiously. "Why do you smell like a dragon egg?"
As Hagrid jumped and stared at her in shock, Ron spun to her in surprise. "How do you know what a dragon egg smells like?" he demanded incredulously.
"Went to a lot of fun places with Mom and Dad over the years," Penny explained readily. "Mom knew some dragon handlers, and one of the dragons actually let me into her nest for some reason. Believe me, you don't forget anything about an event like that." As the others - Hagrid especially - looked at her in awe, she turned back to the groundskeeper. "So why do you smell like an egg-"
"Shh!" Hagrid hastily shushed her. "Look...let's not talk about it here. Come down to my hut later, okay?" With that, he immediately rushed out of the library.
The group exchanged glances, a single thought bouncing between them silently. With a sigh, Hermione closed her book as the others started to get to their feet. "At least clean up first," she pleaded ruefully.
It didn't take long for the group to reach Hagrid's hut, and as soon as they arrived he let them in. They managed to squeeze in together on the couch as Hagrid sat in his chair by the roaring fire in the fireplace, all the windows shuttered tight to keep as much heat in as possible. Since there was no other subject to discuss, everyone's attention was drawn to the fireplace...and the large black egg sitting in it, the flames licking around it merrily.
"Hagrid..." Ron murmured in awed fear. "How did you get a dragon egg?"
"Won it in a card game down in the village last night," Hagrid replied proudly yet worriedly. "So what can ye-"
"Hagrid," Neville interrupted worriedly. "Hatching and raising dragons is highly illegal."
"But...but I've always wanted one o' my own," Hagrid pleaded. "And ah know what ah need ta do. Got this!" He pulled out a book titled 'Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit'. "It's a bit outdated, but it's got everything ah need. Keep the egg in the fire, since the mother dragon breaths on 'em-"
"That's more for the magic than the heat, according to Great Uncle Merry," Penny pointed out thoughtfully. "After all, a dragon's body heat is both hotter and more steady in temperature than their fire breath save just before it leaves their mouth because of how quickly the heat is lost to the environment, and dragons brood their eggs too."
"Huh," Hagrid allowed thoughtfully as he grabbed his umbrella. "Good to know. So...how much magic should be in the fire, then?" He began stirring the wood and coals in the fireplace with the umbrella, trying to be discreet about the colorful sparks that appeared only to almost instantly vanish into the egg.
"Probably as much as possible," Penny allowed thoughtfully as she approached the fire. "Dragons have a lot more raw magic than humans do, after all. It's why bits of them are used as potion ingredients, crafting materials, and wand cores." She began to reach towards the fire.
"Careful!" Hermione warned out.
"Don't worry," Penny insisted easily. "The mineral component of the shell sucks heat out of its environment and stores it inside it. At most it'll be warm to the touch..." She gently pressed her claws to the egg.
A surge of magic from somewhere caused the flames in the fireplace to leap upwards, suddenly colored red and gold as a voice - one with a heavy Scottish accent - echoed over the grounds with a cry of, "DIBS!"
Penny stumbled back in shock as Harry raced to her side, quickly checking to see if she was alright. Much to both of their surprise, her fur wasn't even singed.
"What was that all about?" Ron demanded, stunned.
"No idea," Hagrid allowed uncertainly, checking the egg over as the flames subsided. "Felt like Hogwarts magic, but ain't never seen it do anything like that before..." Once he was sure the egg was undamaged, he shrugged his shoulders. "Anyway, gonna make sure I have enough brandy ta mix with the chicken blood for when he hatches-"
"Alcohol's not good for youngsters, bad for their brain," Penny pointed out dazedly. "If you want to encourage his mental growth, substitute a mix of butterbeer, honey, and goat's milk for the brandy."
Hagrid quickly made a note of that. "Definitely gonna remember that. Anything else I should worry about?"
"...the fact you live in a wooden house?" Hermione pointed out flatly.
"Why's that matter?" Hagrid asked in bewilderment. Hermione promptly buried her face in her hands.
Dumbledore stared at the hatchling sitting on Hagrid's table a few days later, stunned. All traits indicated that it was a very young Norwegian Ridgeback hatchling, though it was distinctly different from one in the wild. For one, it sat comfortably on the table as it patiently waited for Hagrid to mix up its meal. For another, it looked at Dumbledore with curiosity, rather than the malevolence most dragons looked at humans with.
The major difference, however, was the coloration. Norwegian Ridgeback dragons were a very dark green that was almost black normally, but this one's scales shaded from black to red, and each individual scale had a gilded edge. While he didn't want to make the observation aloud just yet, it almost looked like the dragon was wearing Hogwarts robes in Gryffindor colors.
"...and that's the only thing ah can think of that mighta done this, Headmaster," Hagrid finished the tale as he brought the bucket over to the little dragon, who happily buried its muzzle inside and started to guzzle as Hagrid gently stroked its neck with one finger. "So what can ye tell me, Headmaster? Is Norbert okay? Is he sick?"
Dumbledore stroked his beard as he stared at the dragon, thinking over what Hagrid had said. The surge of Hogwarts magic, the colors of the fire, that voice he recognized, and now the color of the scales... Sighing, he drew his wand and cast a rather specific diagnostic spell. He wasn't sure whether to be pleased, frustrated, or resigned that it came back positive. A second spell brought another thing to light. "First of all, Norbert is female."
"...oh," Hagrid allowed uncertainly. "Should I call her something else then? He-...she really seems to like the name Norbert..." As if to prove his point, the little dragon lifted her head at the sound of her name to gaze adoringly at Hagrid.
"...I see no reason to," Dumbledore allowed ruefully. "Especially as no authority of the Ministry will be able - or allowed - to take her from you."
"R-really?" Hagrid gasped in pleased awe. "How's that?"
"The flare of magic was Hogwarts claiming her," Dumbledore explained softly. "She is now bound to the magic of the castle and the grounds, and cannot be forced to leave them against her will. The castle itself would strike back at any attempt." He chuckled softly. "In many muggle fairy tails, the castles of powerful magic users are guarded by various beasts, the strongest of which being dragons. It seems that now...those tails are accurate." As many headaches as this was going to cause him, Dumbledore couldn't help but smile indulgently at the ineffable joy on Hagrid's face.