Disclaimer: Warner Brothers Entertainment Inc. own all rights to Harry Potter
Authors Note: Thank you to everyone who has supported this story so far by reading, reviewing, favouriting and following it.
Special thanks to the following people who are the latest to follow, favourite and review the story; TorchwoodNeedsADoctor, StarryBeth, okcallmebob, tonyguan776, SJHP, ThunderClaw03, Monster King, Scrappy8 and Fangirl19875.
Harry Potter-Weasley Chapter Ten:
Harry gazed at Hagrid and took in his large friend's morose face. There were tears in Hagrid's beetle black eyes and he was sniffling quite loudly.
Harry was just about to speak when Hagrid startled himself and the others by blowing loudly into a handkerchief that looked to be the size of a beach towel. He waited until the man had finished before patting him on the shoulder comfortingly and assuring him "I know you're upset Hagrid but don't worry, he'll be happy with his own kind".
Hagrid sighed. "But what if they're mean to him? They might pick on him or...or anything".
"Hagrid he'll be better off being cared for at sanctuary", Hermione stated in a soft but no nonsense tone.
"That's right Hagrid. You know our brother Charlie's a dragon keeper and he said that all of the keepers work hard to keep the dragons safe and happy with their own species", Ron added.
Harry's eyes lit up as Ron's words sparked an idea in his mind. "Charlie!".
Ron gave his brother a confused look. "What about Char...", his eyes lit up too and he and Harry exchanged grins. At the exact same moment they shouted "Charlie!".
Hermione and Neville looked at each other, shrugged in bemusement at the antics of their friends and tuned back into the conversation as Harry proclaimed "we can write to Charlie, he loves dragons and he'd have no trouble getting a small one like this away!".
"That's right, he'd probably consider it his duty or something", Ron agreed but then bit his lip "we'd have to find some way to prevent Fred, George and Percy knowing about it".
Harry nodded. "Fred and George would try to hijack the scheme for a prank, most likely on the Slytherins and Percy is bound to tell Mum and Dad if he finds out". He knew Dad wouldn't mind as much but their Mum? He shuddered at the thought of Molly Weasleys reaction to her youngest son's transporting a live dragon through the castle.
Hagrid cleared his throat. "There's jus' one issue with sending Norbert away right now", he informed them and proceeded to explain all about new-born dragons, or hatchlings. Harry's heart sank with every word. He felt foolish for forgetting what Charlie had him about dragons. Hatchlings were supposed to be cared for by their mother for for at least two months.
Harry sighed. Two months meant that they could do nothing about the dragon until at least mid January which meant that the risk was increased. He shook his head. How in the hell could they hide a dragon for two months?
It was a question Harry was still asking himself as the foursome reached the castle. "Oh look, it's Potty Potter!", a familiar and loathed voice called out.
Harry growled low in his throat. He really was not in the mood for dealing with a prat like Malfoy at the moment. "Go away Malfoy before I hex you".
"You wouldn't dare", Malfoy sneered.
Harry's temper got the best of him and he whipped out his wand. Even as Hermione and Neville urged him not to do anything stupid he shouted "want to bet? I'm not afraid of you Malfoy, never have been, or of your family. You're all just a bunch of dark arts worshipping maniacs!".
"Why you...", Malfoy's face was red with rage.
Harry cut Malfoy off "and we all know your dad wasn't really under the Imperius Curse", he sneered at the blond haired boy "it's only a matter of time before he shows his true colours".
Malfoy had no chance of a reply for Professor Quirrell arrived. "Wha...wha...what seems to be the trouble boys? N...n...not fighting I hope?", he stuttered.
Harry turned to the Professor to explain and felt a sharp searing pain in his forehead. It felt like his scar was on fire. "Argh!", he couldn't help but cry out in pain.
In an instant Ron was at his brothers side and calling out "Harry? Harry!".
Professor Quirrell gave Harry a strange look and declared "y...you had b...better take Mr P...P...Potter-Weasley to the H...H...Hospital Wing I think".
Harry felt hands on his arms and his wand being slipped back into his pocket. The pain in his scar was awful, like no pain he'd ever felt before and he could only dimly make out Ron and Neville on either side of him as faint footsteps sounded behind him and made him realise Hermione must also be nearby.
"Madam Pomfrey!", Ron called out.
The Medi-Witch turned from what she was doing at the end of the Hospital Wing and frowned heavily. Harry watched as she finished up her examination of the patient she was with and then hurried up past the row of beds so fast she looked like she was gliding.
"Put him on the bed", Madam Pomfrey instructed looking very serious. Harry was placed carefully down on the bed and the Medi-Witch asked "what happened?".
Harry felt too tired to explain and so left it to Ron. "I see", Madam Pomfrey said when Ron finished recounting the incident. She checked Harry over just as the pain was receding in his scar. "Well Mr Potter-Weasley", she concluded "it was either severe anxiety or a migraine", she shook her head "given what took place the latter seems highly likely. You students get far too over-excited about things".
Harry was about to point out that Madam Pomfrey was also very excitable when it came to dealing with her patients but he decided to keep quiet as he mulled over why his scar might be hurting. He pondered asking someone and then it hit him...Bill!
Harry's oldest brother Bill being a Curse Breaker might well be able to give him some advice. He made his mind up to send him a letter around Christmas time. Oh true, he could send Bill a letter today but his brother was very busy and might worry if Harry asked him about it so soon.
"Harry!". The Hospital Wing doors had crashed open. Harry, who was by now recovering from his ordeal, winced at the loud noise as two familiar people arrived by his bedside. He winced further as Madam Pomfrey shouted "this is a Hospital Wing and a place of rest! Keep the noise down!".
Ron, Fred, George, Neville and Hermione waited with Harry as Madam Pomfrey gave him a potion to cool him down and deal with his headache. He was then sent on his way with instructions to come back if it happened again.
The next six weeks were a hectic time for Harry, Ron and their friends. Especially for Harry who barely had a moment to think between homework, classes, Quidditch practise for the next game against Ravenclaw and worrying about Hagrids dragon, Norbert who was growing larger by the week.
A week before the Christmas holidays, Harry, Ron and their siblings signed the necessary forms to stay at Hogwarts over Christmas. Their parents, having not seen much of Charlie since he went to work in Romania, had made the decision to spend Christmas in Romania with Charlie and Ginny would be going with them, though they would stop by on Christmas Eve to give the boys their presents and wish them an early Happy Christmas.
Harry sighed as he signed the form but he knew in his heart of hearts that it would be selfish to ask their parents not to go. After all, there was always next Christmas.
Harry and Ron had just headed outside into the deep, white snow when a flapping of wings was heard by both.
Looking up into the overcast sky and through the heavy flakes of snow that were floating down they saw a snowy white owl zooming towards them. Harry grinned, knowing that it must be the answer from Charlie regarding the dragon. Hedwig landed on Harry's arm, gave him an affectionate nibble on the finger and lifted her leg in order for Harry to take the parchment she was carrying.
"Thanks girl", Harry smiled affectionately at Hedwig as Ron stroked her feathers and received an affectionate nip of his own.
Harry unrolled the scroll of parchment. As he began to read however his hopes died down. "Oh no!".
"What? That's not encouraging Harry! What did Charlie say?", Ron asked looking worried.
Harry finished reading and handed over the scroll which read;
Dear Harry and Ron, I was surprised to receive a letter from you, especially since Harry sent me one only a month ago. What in the world possessed Hagrid to hatch a dragons egg! I know he loves dragons like I do but he knows he won't be able to keep it for long.
I can help you both and Hagrid too but the problem is that I can't get away from work until the end of May. I've used up all my holiday entitlement already. I'm not going to entrust anyone else with this except me and two of my friends. I'm sorry guys but you'll have to help keep Norbert hidden until May. For now I'll send over a dragon crate to Hagrid. I'll contact you near the end of May with a date, time and location for the hand over.
For now just keep yourselves out of trouble. No fights or anything else that will draw attention to you. See you both in May.
Love Charlie.
Having read the letter Ron let out a groan of frustration. "The end of May! How the hell do we keep Norbert hidden for that long?".
Harry sighed. "Well the one positive thing is that Hagrid doesn't reckon, based on Norbert's growth, that he'll have to stop living in the hut before then so as long as Charlie turns up no later than the thirty-first it should be fine".
Ron gave him a sceptical look and Harry just shrugged. He knew it wasn't much of an answer but he wasn't exactly an expert in these things. "We'd better go tell Hermione and Neville about this".
"Hermione will flip out, I'm telling you now", Ron stated.
Harry smiled. "I'm sure it'll be fine". He grinned "anyway we can distract her by telling her we'll search for information on what's being hidden beneath that trap door".
Ron snorted. "Yeah like that will placate her", he replied sarcastically.
They walked back in through the doors of the castle and met Hermione and Neville just coming down the grand staircase. "Can we talk to you two for a moment?", Harry asked them.
The serious look on Harry's face caused Hermione's eyes to narrow suspiciously while Neville nodded his head.
The foursome headed out of the castle and down through the ground to the edge of the Forbidden Forest that lay directly next to Hagrids Cabin.
"Alright what's gone wrong now?", Hermione demanded.
Harry winced. Knowing now that Ron had been right, she was going to get angry, not that he could blame her. "Well...you see...I mean the thing is...". Normally very confident he faltered under Hermione's gaze and whispered to Ron "you explain".
Ron glared at him and whispered back "you git".
"Will one of you tell me what's going on?", Hermione snapped.
Ron sighed and said in a rush "wegotthereplyfromCharliebuthecan'ttakethedragon!".
Hermione frowned and exchanged a look with Neville who looked thoroughly confused. "Could you repeat that?", she asked.
"And in English this time", Neville added.
Harry spared his brother repeating it as he said "what Ron said is that Charlie replied to our letter about Norbert and said he can take him...".
"Yes!", Hermione and Neville high fived and smiled, both looking very relieved.
Harry cleared his throat and said "but not until the end of May. He doesn't have any more time off from work until then and it's a long journey from Romania to England so he can't just leave and be back without being noticed".
Hermione and Neville's faces fell and they looked as despondent about the whole thing as Ron. Harry felt he was the one optimist in the whole group right now. "Oh come on, it's not that bad", he reasoned.
Ron winced. "Not that bad?", Hermione said in a dangerous voice. She poked a finger in Harry's chest and repeated "not that bad? We're hiding a dragon from the Ministry, the Staff at the Castle...everyone! If we get found out not only will Hagrid lose his job but we could be expelled!".
Harry knew she was right but still felt bound to point out what Hagrid had told him. "Look, we don't have to do anything right now. Hagrid said that Norbert is still small enough to hide in his hut for the time being".
Hermione threw her arms up in exasperation. "And what if Norbert sets fire to Hagrids home?".
"Charlie's told us before about dragons Hermione", Ron assured her.
"That's right", Harry added "Charlie told us once that dragons can't produce any big flames from their mouths until they're a year old".
Hermione sighed. "Fine, I give up. Did Charlie say when he'd arrive?".
Harry shook his head. "He didn't give a definite time, he merely said to wait for a letter from him. The letter will arrive a week in advance so we have time to prepare. Once we get the letter we need to inform Hagrid and he'll get Norbert settled in the crate that Charlie will be sending to him".
"Well at least he's with Hagrid and not in the castle", Neville put in with as optimistic a tone as he could manage.
Harry was eating breakfast in the Great Hall with his brother Ron when someone cleared their throat and said "Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Percy".
Harry turned and a wide grin split his face as he saw his adopted Dad Arthur Weasley. Without hesitation, and not caring who was watching, he leapt out of his seat and ran down the aisle between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables and stopped in front of his parents "hi Mum, Dad" he greeted them with a grin.
"Hello Son", Arthur greeted his son with a grin of his own and gave Harry a hug. When Arthur pulled back he commented "you've grown and you've only been here for four months".
Arthur ruffled Harry's hair. "Dad!", Harry protested and was just about to try flattening it when he was enveloped in a bone crushing hug. "Mum, you're crushing me", he joked.
"Oh you", his Mum laughed as she pulled back. "Oh Harry love, it's so good to see you". Molly looked over her shoulder and called out "Ginny love, come and greet your brothers".
Ron, Percy, Fred and George arrived just behind Harry and were greeting their parents as well while Ginny stepped through the doors to the Great Hall and she and Harry exchanged grins. "Harry".
"Ginny".
Harry and Ginny reached out and hugged each other at the same time. "How are you doing little Sis?", he asked her as they relinquished the hug.
Ginny's smile fell. "I miss you and Ron", she admitted looking upset. "Luna's amazing, the best friend I could have but half the time she's away with her Dad on trips to discover new creatures so I get lonely".
Harry knew how to cheer her up. "Tell you what, we'll speak for as long as you want on the mirror tomorrow, how does that sound?".
Ginny smiled gratefully and hugged him again. "You know besides Bill you're my favourite brother".
Harry feigned indignation. "I thought I was your favourite brother?".
Ginny giggled looking happier than when she'd arrived. "No I'd say it's even. You taught me how to fly and let me borrow your broom but Bill always gave me piggy back rides, read me stories and helped me sneak biscuits from the biscuit jar".
Harry grinned. "To be fair, he showed the two of and Ron how to sneak biscuits".
"True", Ginny laughed. She went off to go and greet Ron, the Twins and Percy.
Harry and his family soon left the Great Hall and walked and talked as they moved through the castle and grounds.
The Weasleys shared many laughs and jokes with each other as Harry and his siblings filled them in on the goings on throughout the castle, all except for the dragon. Harry knew not to share anything about that.
Around eleven o'clock the family found themselves outside near the greenhouses and someone suggested a snowball fight to which most of them agreed to and happily decided to partake in. Only Mrs Weasley sat it out. To Harry's surprise and that of his siblings, even Percy willingly joined in and was soon flinging snowballs with gusto.
"Take cover!", Harry shouted and shoved Ginny aside as a combined snowball was launched by Fred and George. "Argh!", he exclaimed as the snowball hit him causing a large wet patch on his blue jumper. Striking a pose he declared in a mock heroic voice "and now villains, you shall pay for destroying this jumper!".
Harry turned to Ron and Ginny. "Are you with me!", he shouted like a general with his troops".
"Yeah!", Ron and Ginny replied just as loudly. Harry smirked as Fred and George gulped. He saw them pull Percy aside, they seemed to be pleading with him to join their team and to his Harry's dismay after some time they appeared to convince him.
The two teams ducked behind their snow walls and prepared for the battle. "One, two, three...now!", Harry yelled and as one the three youngest Weasleys leapt up, fired their snowballs and waited for the return fire. They heard two splats and then identical shouts of indignation.
Harry laughed heartily as he saw Percy rapid firing snowballs at the Twins. "Didn't really think I'd join them did you?", he asked the younger Weasleys. This comment made Harry laugh even more as, he had to admit, it was highly unlikely as a scenario.
That evening Arthur, Molly and Ginny were saying goodbye to their children. "We'll see you all soon at the next Gryffindor Quidditch match", Harry's mum promised him as she hugged him "and don't forget to write".
"I'll make sure to write Mum", Harry grinned and added "it's Ron you need to encourage".
"Oi I heard that!", Ron objected.
"Oh stop complaining and come here for a hug!", Molly said to Ron affectionately.
"Mum, you're crushing me!", Ron protested.
"Yeah Mum, be careful, awkward thing to explain you know", Fred joked. George sniggered and soon the pair of them were laughing as Molly scolded them.
"I'm going to miss things like today", Ginny said quietly as Harry and her stood next to their dad and watched the chaos.
Harry hugged her and said "you know you can always mirror call me if you need to and I'll be sending a letter next week".
As Ginny pulled back she gave a shrug and a weak smile. "I know but...it's not quite the same as having you or the others at home".
Harry grinned and ruffled her hair. "Harry don't!", she shouted and then hurried to fix it.
Their Dad chuckled and said "your brothers right Ginny and in any case you'll be coming here on the train with them all next September".
Ginny's eyes lit up happily. "That's right!", she smiled and said "I hope Luna will be in Gryffindor too".
Harry smirked and joked "but what if you end up in Slytherin?".
"Not a chance!", Ginny fired back confidently and stated "just like it put you and Ron in Gryffindor so I will be". Harry's face fell as he grimaced. He plastered a false smile on his face but Ginny's next words confirmed to him she'd seen it "did something happen at the sorting ceremony?". Harry didn't answer so she frowned and asked "Harry, what happened?".
Harry sighed. "I'll tell you another time. I don't want anyone at Hogwarts overhearing". Ginny nodded, gave him one more hug and went to join the others.
"Well, once again Happy Christmas Son", Arthur said as he hugged Harry and tried to ruffle his hair. Harry dodged him and smirked.
"Not this time Dad", he said.
Arthur chuckled. "Reflexes of a seeker and all that".
Harry grinned and laughed as well. He put a determinedly casual look on his face, glanced over at his family and saw they were all occupied. 'Now or never' he thought and said as casually as her could "err...Dad?".
"Yes Harry?", Arthur replied.
Harry just came out with it. "Do you happen to know anything about a Philosopher's Stone?".
Arthur smiled. It was clear he knew something as he said "Why do you ask?".
Harry shrugged. "No reason, it's just that I heard something about it in a book", he lied.
Arthur scratched his head. "Sorry I can't help you Harry. I've never heard anything of the kind". Harry could tell he was lying. He would bet all the Quidditch trading cards he owned (which was a lot) that his dad knew precisely what it was and why it was at Hogwarts.
He sighed internally as he realised that whatever his father knew, he wasn't going to tell either Harry or Ron.
Ron came over to say goodbye to their dad and went to open his mouth. A quick shake of the head from Harry stopped him in his tracks as Harry mouthed "he knows but he won't say".
Ron thus instead said "bye Dad, love you" and gave their dad a hug.
Later that night in the empty dorm room the two brothers sat on Harry's bed. "So you think Dad knows about the Philosopher's Stone then Harry?".
"I know he does Ron", Harry replied seriously and felt glad for the privacy they currently had. "He won't tell me anything though which means the Stone must be more important than we thought. We need to find out who Nicholas Flamel is, only then will we know what's going on".
Ron sighed in frustration. "But how will we find him? We've already checked everywhere".
Harry grinned in a way that made Ron groan. "You've got another crazy idea haven't you", he stated rather than asked.
Harry's grin grew wider as he said "you say we've checked everywhere but think about it Ron, where is the one section of the Library we've never been in?".
Ron's eyes widened and he shook his head repeatedly. "No Harry! No! In the first place we'd never get permission to enter the Restricted Section, in the second place the books in there are really dangerous and in the third place there's no way a teacher would give us permission to check out the books there".
Harry went to open his mouth to argue only to close it again. Ron was right, he knew. He wanted to try it anyway but there was, sadly, no way they'd get away with it.
Harry's eyes snapped open as he felt something bouncing up and down on his bed. He could feel the mattress moving with every jump. "Wha...what...what's going on?", he murmured sleepily.
The scene before Harry's eyes was very blurry but he could just make out the outline of someone on his bed. The someone was of the same small stature as himself but that's all he could see.
Harry fumbled for his glasses, slipped them on and yawned. "Ron, what's happened? Is there a fire or something?".
Ron laughed happily. "It's Christmas Day Harry! Christmas Day!".
Harry's eyes widened, his face split into a grin and he slipped out of bed. Soon, the two of them were dressed and they raced down to the Common Room. It was obviously early as even Percy was not up yet.
Harry and Ron plopped themselves down in front of the Common Room Christmas tree. "Look at all the presents!", Ron exclaimed.
Harry was amazed at the haul of presents. "We should wait for Fred, George and Percy", he stated.
Ron reluctantly agreed. "Oh...alright then", he frowned at the present he was holding. "Err...Harry...there's one addressed to you but there's no name or card with it, just this short note. Here, have a look".
Harry took the present from his brother with a frown of his own. He examined the neatly wrapped package carefully, poking, prodding and squishing it. It felt very soft. "It feels like some sort of fabric", he remarked.
"Might as well open it, maybe it'll say who it's from on the inside", Ron suggested.
"Yeah, guess you're right", Harry replied. He tore off the wrapping paper and threw it into the magical vanishing bin from which it promptly disappeared. The bundle of fabric was like nothing he had ever seen in his life before.
The material he was holding was definitely not clothing of any sort and it was too thin to be a towel.
"That's an invisibility cloak!" Ron stated in amazement as he pointed at the material Harry had stretched to it's fullest extent.
Harry was sure he'd heard the term somewhere before. He looked at his brother and asked "an invisibility cloak?".
"Yeah, they make anyone or anything that is covered by them completely invisible", Ron informed him with a grin. "They're supposed to be really rare". He cocked his head sideways thoughtfully "I wonder who sent it to you...and why".
Harry glanced at the note, grinning happily. "It doesn't say who sent it", he said "it just says; Harry, your father left this cloak in my possession ten years ago. It was time that it was returned to you".
"Weird", Ron shrugged and then grinned "just think what we could get up to with this", he laughed.
Harry laughed too and agreed. "Yeah we could prank that prat Malfoy and his goons...maybe even Snape!". He froze for a moment as an idea lit up in his mind. "The cloak!".
"Yeah, we can pull a lot of pranks...".
Harry cut Ron off as he said "no Ron, the cloak, the Library! We can use it to sneak into the Restricted Section of the Library!". Ron looked surprised for a moment and then he smirked "well it seems we finally have a way to search it without being caught".
Harry and Ron exchanged a wide grin and a laugh. At last they would finally get their answers on the Philosophers Stone and Nicholas Flamel.