Days later, one fine afternoon after finishing their classes, Harry and his friends decided to pay a visit to Hagrid's hut. Hagrid, always welcoming, greeted them warmly, and they chatted and exchanged pleasantries. However, during their visit, Harry and his friends heard faint, curious sounds coming from a concealed basket hidden in the corner of the hut.
Hagrid's attempts to obscure the source of the noises were in vain. With a guilty look, he finally revealed the source of the mysterious sounds—a big-sized egg. When Harry and his friends inquired about it, Hagrid reluctantly confessed that he had purchased the illegally smuggled egg from an anonymous seller, unaware of the creature it contained.
Suddenly, the egg started to tremble, and with a crack, it began to hatch. Before their eyes, a baby dragon emerged, blinking in the newfound light. Upon seeing Hagrid, the dragonlet seemed to decide that he was its mother. Hagrid, with a beaming smile, immediately named the dragon "Norbert."
However, Daphne corrected him with a gentle laugh. "Hagrid, this little dragon is actually a female. You should name her Norberta."
As they watched the baby dragon interact with Hagrid, Harry and his friends couldn't help but feel that something was amiss. It was highly unlikely that Hagrid would purchase an illegal dragon egg without any idea of the consequences.
Draco, ever resourceful, proposed an idea. "We should contact my parents. They have connections with dragon handlers from all over the world. They'll know how to handle this situation."
Hagrid, who had grown attached to Norberta, was initially resistant to the idea of parting ways with her. However, Harry and his friends convinced him that Norberta deserved a real home, one that could only be provided by experienced dragon handlers.
That evening, after much deliberation, they returned to Hagrid's hut. Using Harry's trusted owl, Hedwig, they contacted Draco's parents and explained the situation. Narcissa Malfoy answered their plea for help and assured them that she would send dragon handlers to take care of Norberta.
After their successful communication with Draco's parents and the arrival of the dragon handlers, the group made their way back to Hagrid's hut. There, they witnessed the skilled dragon handlers preparing to transport Norberta to a sanctuary where she could grow and thrive among her own kind. It was a bittersweet moment, but they knew they were doing the right thing for the baby dragon.
As they finally bid farewell to Hagrid and Norberta, they glanced at the setting sun and realized that they had lost track of time. Panic washed over them as they hurriedly made their way back to the castle, fearing they had missed dinner and were about to break curfew.
Draco, understanding the urgency, quickly said his goodbyes and dashed off towards the Slytherin common room.
Harry, Daphne, and Hermione rushed through the corridors, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. They knew they needed to get to the Ravenclaw common room before anyone noticed their absence.
However, their efforts were in vain. Just as they approached the entrance to Ravenclaw Tower, they were intercepted by Professor Snape, who appeared out of the shadows, his dark eyes gleaming with disapproval.
"Out after curfew, are we?" Snape sneered. "And where, pray tell, were you sneaking off to?"
Hermione tried to explain, "We were at Hagrid's hut, Professor. There was an urgent matter—"
Snape interrupted her with a dismissive wave. "That's not my concern at the moment. You will all come with me to the headmaster's office."
Reluctantly, Harry, Daphne, and Hermione followed Snape to Dumbledore's office. The tension in the room was palpable as Dumbledore listened to Snape's report.
Dumbledore sighed and regarded the young students with a twinkle in his eyes. "I understand that there were extenuating circumstances, but rules are rules, my dear children. You know better than to break curfew."
He looked at them with a mixture of sternness and kindness. "To ensure that you understand the importance of following school rules, I'm assigning you detention."
The three exchanged worried glances, wondering what kind of punishment they would receive.
Dumbledore continued, "Your detention will be served with Hagrid. I believe he can impart valuable lessons about responsibility and the consequences of our actions."
Professor Snape's frustration was evident as he watched Harry, Daphne, and Hermione receive what he deemed a rather light punishment for breaking curfew. He had expected more severe consequences, given their blatant disregard for the rules.
Snape's sneer deepened, and he couldn't help but voice his discontent. "Headmaster, I must protest! This is hardly an appropriate punishment for such a flagrant violation of school rules."
Dumbledore, still wearing his characteristic twinkle, regarded Snape with a serene expression. "Severus, my dear friend, I understand your concerns, but it is important to remember that we must balance discipline with compassion. Each situation is unique, and in this case, I believe the punishment fits the circumstances."
Snape grumbled under his breath, clearly dissatisfied with Dumbledore's response. He knew that the headmaster's word was final, and there was little he could do to change it.
With a final, exasperated glance at Harry and his friends, Snape turned and left Dumbledore's office in a huff. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was another instance where Harry seemed to receive preferential treatment.
After a brief lecture on the importance of rules and curfew, Dumbledore dismissed them, sending them on their way to the Ravenclaw common room.
As Harry, Daphne, and Hermione left Dumbledore's office, the headmaster allowed himself a subtle, self-satisfied smirk. He knew that his intricate plans were proceeding exactly as he had intended.
In his wise old eyes, Dumbledore concealed the knowledge that he knows the unknown person who had sold the dragon egg to Hagrid, setting in motion the events that had led to Norberta's arrival at Hogwarts. He was confident that Harry would attempt to help his loved ones, creating a scenario that would test his character and his loyalty.
Dumbledore was aware that Snape was lurking nearby, patrolling the particular corridor where the students had broken curfew. He had subtly guided Snape to be in the right place at the right time, ensuring that Harry, Daphne, and Hermione would be caught breaking the rules.
However, Dumbledore's decision to give them a relatively light punishment was not merely an act of kindness. It was a calculated move designed to further his plan. He knew that by showing leniency toward Harry and his friends, he would create a favorable impression in their eyes, making it easier for him to manipulate them in the future.
As Dumbledore settled into his office, his thoughts turned to the next steps in his intricate web of schemes. He was confident that his plans were unfolding perfectly, and he was prepared to use every tool at his disposal to achieve his ultimate goals in the wizarding world.
As Harry, Daphne, and Hermione made their way back to the Ravenclaw common room, they reflected on the events of the evening. While they had faced their fair share of challenges and frustrations, they had also learned important lessons about friendship, responsibility, and the consequences of their actions.
As they made their way back, they couldn't help but feel that their adventures at Hogwarts had taken an unexpected turn once again. But they were determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead, even if it meant serving detention with the gentle giant, Hagrid.