A/N:

I'm sorry it took me SO long to get this out! The Hogwarts Mystery game released some newer chapters that caused me to rethink my approach with this fic. Anyway, I'll keep this short- hope you enjoy this latest chapter!

Year 8: A Dragon named Norbert

1991

It was a cloudless afternoon, the sky pale blue as a crisp autumn breeze drifted through the rolling plains, the tall yellow grass rippling like a sea of gold. Barnaby lay in the field, enjoying the rare bit of sunshine warming his skin, a chorus of panting dogs surrounding him. He glanced around, counting all dozen albino bloodhounds who lay scattered about, enjoying a good sunbathing.

Lazily, he bit into an apple- a whimpering sounded in his ear as a cold nose nuzzled his hand. It was Pearl, the runt of the litter and the pup he had grown closest to during his time as Hounds Master. A persistent whine escaped her as a string of drool dripped from her drooping jowls.

"Alright, you stubborn little bugger." A chuckle escaped his lips as he tossed her a chunk of fruit, the dog happily relished in her victory.

Barnaby tucked his arm under his head, his thoughts drifting back to Arah as they had a thousand times since that particular night. His heart raced just thinking of the warmth of her skin- how he had held her close, the feel of her silver hair slipping through his fingers.

It had been weeks since that night. They had continued their weekly apparition lessons as if nothing had happened between them. If anything, Arah seemed a bit distant- jumpy at his touch, always mindful not to stand too close to him. The three of them had passed the exam (a miracle, really), returning to their busy work schedules. He'd hardly seen Arah since. Barnaby couldn't help but wonder if she regretted the night they had shared. He certainly didn't.

Barnaby groaned, dragging a hand over his face- trying to clear his head of the memory. Pearl licked his cheek as he playfully nudged her away.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, I was just thinking about her again." The dog cocked her head to the side. "I'm driving myself barmy. Maybe I should just talk to her- tell her how I feel. What do you think?"

The pale dog panted happily, red tongue lolling out of the side of its mouth.

"Yeah? How about... 'Hey Arah, by the way, I've been in love with you since 4th year- sorry it took me so long to tell you." he recited casually, as Pearl's tail started wagging. "No... I couldn't. If things changed between us... I can't lose her. She's too important to me." His face creased with worry.

Pearl's pale blue eyes drifted back to the half-eaten apple in his hands, licking her chops desperately. Barnaby sighed, biting off another chunk and tossing it to the pup as she devoured the piece without even chewing.

Barnaby stood, brushing the dead grass off his pants- giving a short whistle as the hounds immediately stood at attention, waiting for his signal. He took out the strange pig-shaped toy that was used to train the hounds for Nogtail hunting, winding it up as the dogs waited patiently. It still impressed him to see the wind-up magical dummy come to life, its long spindly legs moving quickly as the life-like Nogtail took off, disappearing into the thicket. The dogs waited for his command, tails wagging with excitement. Barnaby lingered until the dummy vanished behind a hill in the distance, letting out a sharp whistle. The dogs sprinted into the tall grass, chasing after their target.

A pattern of shadows streaked through the grass as the hounds tracked their prey. They were good dogs; disciplined, and well-rewarded (sometimes too much. Amos Diggory had kindly instructed Barnaby to lay off the treats). Barnaby enjoyed the work he did. The reserve was just another benefit of the job; a sanctuary owned by the Department of Magical Creatures hidden in the heart of Eryri National Park. It was beautiful and a good break away from his Grandmum's old dingy home. The bad memories in that horrid place made it hard to think, but out here, it was as if he could finally breathe. He spent less and less time there if he could avoid it, often going straight from work to Toothill's Dueling Club to blow off some steam.

But as much as Barnaby enjoyed his job, he couldn't deny the deep unsettling loneliness that blighted him. Hogwarts had been the only home he'd ever known, his friends were his chosen family. Now, everything was different, all his friends scattered about. Sometimes he'd go days without seeing them, his only companions were the hounds and Amos whenever he was around (which wasn't often). The days stretched longer as their weekly get-together at the Hogs Head would approach. It was the highlight of Barnaby's week and the only time he was guaranteed to see his friends.

A glint of movement caught Barnaby's attention on the distant horizon. Shading his eyes from the sun, he squinted, making out a bird- but not just any bird, an owl. Odd to see one flying all the way out in the Eryri, but the bird did not seem to be mistaken as it flew directly toward him- a note tied to its talon. It stooped down on his arm as Barnaby exchanged the parchment for a treat that it happily gobbled down before taking off again.

His eyebrows furrowed as he turned over the envelope. It was from Charlie, a thin layer of soot dusted over the paper. Opening it, he immediately recognized his mate's sloppy handwriting.

Barnaby,

I'm in a pinch - actually, my little brother is and I could use some help. Unfortunately, it's breeding season here at the Dragon Reserve, and I can't leave my post as things get rather... aggressive this time of year. It's all-hands-on-deck and I can't afford to leave. I'm hoping you might be able to help.

According to Ron, Hagrid's got himself into some trouble with a baby dragon. Apparently, our half-giant friend thought it would be a good idea to keep one as a bloody pet (he's mad!). My brother asked if I could come and pick up the little beasty since Hagrid might be facing some serious consequences soon if they don't get rid of it.

I can't go, but maybe you can? I told Ron to meet at the top of the Astronomy tower on Saturday at midnight. I hope you can help. I owe you one, mate!

Charlie

Barnaby read the letter again, a grin stretched across his face at the excitement of this new adventure. And he knew just who to ask for help.

"You've got to be joking." Andre laughed, his smile falling flat at Barnaby's sincerity. "Shit. He's not joking."

"How is it that Charlie's brother happened to find more trouble than us in our first year?" Arah snorted. "Say no more, I'm in." Barnaby wasn't surprised by her eagerness to jump on the opportunity. The witch had a habit of finding mischief- it lured her like a glumbumble to treacle honey.

"But... how do we transport a pre-mature dragon from Hogwarts to the Ministry without anyone noticing?" Liz worried.

"I think I've got an idea. Charlie said we have until Saturday -that's a week away. Arah and Andre are the strongest fliers I know. Andre could create a harness out of Dragon Leather to transport the dragon by broomstick. I can help contain the dragon while Liz casts a concealment charm as we fly to the Ministry. In case anything goes wrong, Liz can act as backup for me."

"Brilliant." Arah looked at him, a look of awe in her golden eyes. "That's brilliant thinking, Barns."

There it was, that nickname Arah had coined for him since they were young. Even after all this time, he didn't think he'd ever tire from hearing it. Barnaby had to make a conscious effort not to beam like a stupid git at her praise.

Liz looked puzzled, pushing her thick glasses up her nose. "It's a good plan, Barnaby, but the Ministry won't just accept an illegal dragon without questioning how we ended up with one in the first place."

"Good point..." Barnaby looked to Jae who sat lazily back in his chair, feet propped up on the table ignoring the glare Aberforth was shooting him. "What say you, expert smuggler?"

"I know a guy." he shrugged smugly, "If you can meet me at Fitzy's Bakery before dawn, I'll handle things from there."

"Fitzy's?" Liz blinked, "You mean the cake shop you work at?"

"The very one." Jae leaned in close, voice suddenly quiet, "It's not just a cake shop. I've got quite the... operation going - best keep it to yourself if you know what's good for you." he winked.

"Could your 'guy' get the dragon to the Romanian Dragon Reserve?" Barnaby questioned.

"That little drake will be spreading its wings and picking up other drakaina by sunset."

Barnaby's eyebrows shot up at this, "This could work."

"I don't know..." Andre paled.

"It will work," Barnaby reassured- surprised to hear the unwavering confidence in his own voice. "Can you have the harness ready in a week?"

Andre rolled his eyes, "Have I ever missed a deadline when it comes to a fashion emergency? It will be done."

"Wicked."

The five of them began to plot and plan the route they would take from Hogwarts to London. Andre sketched a few designs that could work for their contraption- Barnaby and Liz occasionally chiming in on the anatomy of a dragon so that Andre would tweak a strap here or add a muzzle there. What they ended up with was a leather harness that would be suspended between two broomsticks for better stability and security. Arah and Andre discussed flying drills similar to what they used to practice during their quidditch days. Liz would be positioned next to Andre and Barnaby next to Arah to offer concealment and protection while the two of them focus on flying... 'and not dying' as Andre would say.

They agreed to meet every day after work in The Eryri Reserve, rain or shine, to practice their drills. Barnaby would watch Andre and Arah fly- keeping an equal distance apart while Liz flew beside them, practicing her concealment charm. From a muggle's perspective, nobody would be able to see the slight distortion in the sky, especially in the concealment of night. Arah and Barnaby would occasionally break away and practice dueling on broom to help prepare for any trouble while Andre and Liz worked on the harness. His plan would work- but Barnaby knew they weren't out of the woods just yet.

The week went by much too fast. Before they knew it, it was Saturday night. They had all met at Hogsmeade. A veil of clouds blanketed the moon, the pale glow struggling to break through its cover. It was the perfect weather to pass stealthily over London- using the clouds to their advantage. It would take nearly all night to get there from Hogwarts- especially with a dragon in tow.

A silence settled between them as they each busied themselves with pointless tasks to mask their nerves. Barnaby checked over the harness (again) to make sure the straps were plenty sturdy. If anything were to go wrong tonight, he would take full responsibility. It was his plan after all.

"Merlin, why did I agree to do this?" Andre muttered to himself, strapping his leather quidditch hat tightly over his ears. "Stupid. Stupid. Stupid."

Liz looked up to the sky thoughtfully before shoving a finger in her mouth and holding it in the air for a moment. "The wind is blowing in from the North - it will be cold, but at least we will be flying with the current- not against it." She chimed in positively.

"Great. So you're saying I'll die freezing my ass off."

Arah pulled her long silver hair back, fastening it with a tie. Out of their little crew of misfits, she was unnaturally chipper given the circumstances of what they were about to do. "Cheer up Andre, we've survived worse."

He shot her a look of daggers paired with a lovely middle finger salute as Arah fought to hold back her smirk. "I'd rather not push my luck, Cursebreaker."

While Andre and Liz wrestled with their gear, Barnaby glanced over at Arah. She was polishing her broom, nose red and cheeks flushed from the cold as humid plumes billowed from her breath. She was stunning, so much so that Barnaby had to make a note not to stare. He busied himself with the harness, pretending not to notice her trotting up to him.

"How many more times are you going to check that thing tonight?" Arah teased, bumping his arm playfully with hers. Things had become fairly normal between the two of them to Barnaby's relief.

"At least fifty." He half-joked as she raised a skeptical eyebrow at him. "What?" his voice came out high and squeaky.

"Everything is going to be fine. Have some faith in yourself, Lee."

Barnaby swallowed, avoiding her stare as he untangled the heap of leather straps. "How are you feeling?" he asked in hopes of steering the conversation away from him.

"As ready as I'll ever be." She adjusted the goggles over her eyes, looking bug-like and ridiculously adorable. "You got my back?"

"Of course! I always do, don't I? " He shot her a crooked smile, "I won't let anything happen, I promise." And he wouldn't- not to any of them.

Arah lay a hand on his shoulder, "I know." she smiled warmly. "That's why I'm not even the least bit nervous."

If only he were so confident.

After one final assessment, they mounted their broomsticks and launched into the night- the beautiful castle beckoning in the distance, a sight that would never lose its magic. They flew high above the sleepy Hogsmead village, over the dark mounds of the Scottish Highlands that lie like sleeping giants. Within a few minutes, they were circling above the Astronomy tower, two figures waving frantically below.

They dismounted- Arah already running up to the two children, shaking their hands eagerly. A small girl with large teeth and bushy brown hair just about hugged Arah with relief. Barnaby noticed the young boy, a familiar lightning-shaped scar hidden behind the mop of dark hair and rounded glasses. It was him. 'The boy who lived', Harry Potter.

"How did the two of you manage to drag a Dragon up here by yourselves?!" Arah gasped. A wooden crate the size of a large dog jostled on the floor, a muffled screech erupting from it.

"Honestly, I'm not even sure." The girl panted. "I'm just thrilled we're finally rid of him. Norbert's caused quite the stir."

"No shit!" Andre blurted.

"Andre!" Arah scolded him, elbowing him sharply in the ribs as he let out a pained yelp. "Language!"

The boy and girl glanced at each other, stifling a laugh.

"Don't mind him. I'm Arah, by the way! This here is Barnaby, Andre, and Liz."

Barnaby gave a crooked grin. "Cheers."

"Pleasure." Andre saluted. "And er- sorry for the cussing."

They looked at Liz expectantly as she stared at the legendary boy, eyes wide as saucers as if she were looking at an extinct Golden Snidget. Barnaby cleared his throat as she continued to gawk at Harry Potter. "Psst, Liz," he whispered, "Manners!"

Liz jumped, coming back to her senses as she nervously adjusted her glasses, "S-sorry! I'm Liz!"

Harry chuckled shyly at this, "It's okay, I'm used to it."

"I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger." The young girl interjected confidently, reaching out to Arah and giving her a firm handshake as if she were trying to be elected for Minister of Magic. "This here is Harry."

"Hullo." The young boy waved awkwardly.

Barnaby looked around, expecting to see the smallest of the Weasley boys with them. "Where's Ron? I thought he'd be here given he's the one who wrote Charlie for help."

"Hospital Wing, I'm afraid." Harry chimed in, "Norbert decided Ron's hand would be a tasty snack."

"Poor Ronald." Arah frowned. "I was hoping to see him again. He was just a wee lad last I saw him."

Barnaby crouched closer to the crate, the wooden box shaking violently as if the dragon could sense his presence. "Why don't we meet little Norbert, eh?"

"I wouldn't say little." Hermione murmured under her breath.

Barnaby held his breath, carefully cracking the lid just barely before the Dragon reared its snout out, chomping at his nose. "Bloody hell!" Barnaby quickly slammed the lid shut, stumbling back.

"Barnaby!" Arah chastised again like a disapproving grandmother.

"Merlin, I almost get my face bit off by a bloody Dragon and the witch scolds me about swearing," Barnaby mumbled as the kids let out a giggle. "Liz, you think you can slip the muzzle over him while I hold him steady?"

The two of them wrestled the beast, a tangle of leather and wings as it thrashed and beat and snarled and battered. At one point, Arah and Andre had to help hold not-so-little Norbert down as Barnaby lassoed the Dragon, its size deceiving given the amount of strength it had. By the end of it, they were all panting and out of breath as Norbert was fastened tightly in his harness like a cacoon, a leather muzzle over its snout to keep it from biting or bellowing fire.

Andre proudly showed off the harness to Hermione and Harry, describing how it all worked. Before long, they were strapping Norbert to Arah and Andre's broomsticks. Thankfully, Barnaby had thought to ask Penny for some Calming Drought before the big trip. Penny warned she had no idea how the potion would affect a Dragon (if at all), but it did seem to at least calm the beast for the time being.

"Word of advice, stay out of trouble you two," Arah cautioned, putting her goggles back on and mounting her broom. "Take it from someone who never seemed to get out of it."

They both glimpsed at one another, a shared look of mischief in their eye. Something told Barnaby these kids would find a lot more of it in the coming years.

"Well if you DO happen to find yourself in trouble, Filch keeps all the best confiscated goods on the top shelf in his office." Barnaby winked.

"Thank you again!" Hermione gushed as the rest of them mounted their broomsticks. "I'm sure Hagrid will appreciate it too... someday."

"He's crushed for the time being," Harry said solemnly.

"Norbert is in good hands," Liz assured softly. "We promise. Please give Hagrid our sincerest regards."

Harry nodded. "It was nice meeting you lot."

"Who knows, maybe our paths will cross again someday." Arah smiled warmly.

"Hopefully not from a bloody dragon though, yeah?" Andre interjected. "Because I'm never doing this again. Ever."

The boy and girl nodded enthusiastically as they waved goodbye at the crew of misfits, their figures becoming smaller and smaller as they took off into the night.

The first couple hours went by fairly smoothly, the Calming Draught seemed to be doing its job as Norbert hardly thrashed, not even a wriggle. One might even say the dragon was rather enjoying itself- relishing in its beastly nature of freedom the vast night sky offered. They had used the cover of the clouds to conceal them as they flew over Glasgow without any issue. Everything was going perfectly as planned- more than perfect. Barnaby might even claim this was easy ... until it wasn't.

The trouble happened as they flew over the Pennine mountains - the glow of Manchester shined in the distance. The stars were vast and limitless above the clouds, thousands of twinkling lights so close Barnaby could see the way their colors flared hot. The moonlight shone on the tops of the clouds like a whispy sea, the mist tickling their ankles. Barnaby reached down, feeling the moisture lick his hands as the whisps trailed behind him. Every now an then, they would fly over a clearing, seeing the dark rolling hills below. It reminded Barnaby of one of Badea's paintings, absolutely breathtaking. He was so mesmerized until a massive metal structure ripped through the clouds, a thunderous roar erupted into the sky. It took everything for Barnaby not to let go of his broomstick and cover his ears from the unbearable sound.

It was a muggle plane. Barnaby glanced over to his friends, ears ringing as he saw Norbert thrashing with fear, nearly flinging Andre and Arah off their brooms as they gripped tightly. The fear was evident in their faces, their mouths moving frantically, but he couldn't hear over the exploding sound of the flying machine.

Barnaby tore out his wand, aiming shakily toward the dragon, careful not to hit Andre or Arah in the process.

"Immobulus!" he yelled.

A cold blue light shot from the tip of his Ash wand. A direct hit, but the light slipped past the beast, cutting into the clouds. Perplexed, Barnaby fired again, but the spell repelled off its hide like water.

"GODRICKS BALLS, SHIT FUCK." Andre's panic rose above the roar.

"ANDRE HOLD STEADY! I NEED YOU TO FOCUS! " Arah barked, gripping her broom with all her might.

Norbert let out a piercing screech, whipping its head in anger, the muzzle's strap becoming dangerously loose as it flapped in the wind. Then it dawned on him... the mistake he had made. Dragon hide; a hide so strong, so valuable due to its ability to repel even the most powerful of spells. The Dragon was impenetrable by magic. Barnaby's eyes darted to Liz- her eyes wide with panic, then to Andre and Arah as they struggled to keep steady, then to Norbert as the muzzle fell free from its snout- its mouth opening wide.

"Watch out!" Barnaby cried.

A fireball rumbled directly toward Arah. Barnaby dove toward her, casting a quick-timed shield charm as the fire exploded around them.

"What do we do?" Arah looked to him, trying to keep the panic from her voice.

The dragon, opened its mouth again, a stream of fire spewing from its mouth as it hurled above the clouds, casting the billows in an orange glow. Liz shielded Andre as the stream came dangerously close to him.

"We have to land!" Liz yelled.

"We can't! We're right above Manchester, we'll be done for!" Andre argued over the roar of the wind.

Barnaby's mind reeled, sorting through what very few options they had that didn't result in their arrests or untimely demise. "I...I have an idea, but it's bloody mad." Barnaby shouted, trying not to think of the distance between them and the ground.

Arah glanced at him, eyebrows furrowed with concern. "Whatever it is, I'm with you. Andre and I can't hold on much longer."

Barnaby had promised they would be safe, and he planned to keep that promise. He swallowed his nerves, looking to Liz.

"Liz, I'm going to need you to get in front of Norbert and distract him as long as you can."

" - but the concealment charm!"

"Screw the bloody concealment charm! What good is it if we're all DEAD!" Andre yelped.

Liz nodded and increased her speed, flying in front of Norbert, lighting up the tip of her wand and flailing it around like a cat toy. It seemed to be working as Norbert's focus was suddenly only on Liz- screeching and blowing balls of fire as Liz continued to dodge his attacks.

Barnaby slowed his speed, positioning himself right behind the beast, keeping a steady pace. His stomach lurched with nausea at the thought of what he was about to do- trying not to imagine himself falling at such a distance. He patted his pocket, feeling the remaining Calming Draught.

"Andre, Arah - I need you both to brace when I jump on Norbert's back, got it?"

"WHAT?" Arah looked to him dumbfounded,

"Have you lost the plot, mate!" Andre bellowed.

"Just trust me! Can you do it?"

They both looked to each other, exchanging a look before nodding in unison.

Barnaby took a deep breath- pushing away all fear like his father had once drilled into his head as a boy. He hovered over the dragon as the creature continued to focus only on Liz. Muttering a final prayer, Barnaby dropped from his broom mounting the dragon awkwardly as it tried to wriggle free, its neck twisting in an attempt to bite him. Barnaby's stomach dropped as they suddenly lost altitude, Andre and Arah struggling to keep up with the sudden weight they were carrying. Soon, they were dipping below the cloud line, exposed and high above farmland- descending quickly.

With gritted teeth, Barnaby pushed Norbert's snout away- grabbing the potion from his pocket and uncorking it with his teeth. The dragon opened its mouth, exposing a small flame glowing in the back of its throat before Barnaby shoved the potion down its mouth. The beast thrashed its head as liquid drained down its throat, its movements becoming more sluggish. The loose muzzle flapped in the wind as Barnaby gripped the leather mask, slipping it over Norbert's snout and strapping it tightly in place. A chortling sound filled the air as Barnaby twisted to see Andre laughing hysterically.

The hard part was over, but now was the part Barnaby didn't quite think through. His broom was long gone, likely splintered to pieces in a poor farmer's wheat field. He was stuck and they were plummeting fast. Arah seemed to sense this predicament as she turned to Liz.

"Liz! Fly your broom alongside Barnaby and let him climb on with you."

"B-but I'm not a very strong flyer!" she hesitated.

"You can do this!"

Liz veered off, doing her best to keep steady alongside a drowsy Norbert and Barnaby. She was only about 3ft away- but it felt like one hundred as Barnaby saw the sickening distance below. He squeezed his eyes tight, trying to push away the fear. He could do this, he had to do this. Ignoring his quacking muscles, Barnaby swung his legs over, using his little strength to hoist himself onto Liz's broom. For a moment, they wobbled intensely before Liz was able to steady out.

"Barnaby, you crazy fucking lunatic!" Andre snorted.

"We did it..." Liz muttered in complete shock. "WE DID IT!" she cheered.

Barnaby grinned, feeling deliriously giddy to still be breathing as he began to laugh at the sheer madness of what he had just done.

Andre let out a whoop, his cheers echoing across the vast sky as Arah laughed breathlessly, holding up her hands in the air as if she were a bird.

Their bodies were cold, stiff, and ached terribly after the long flight home. Norbert slept like a baby. They landed in the ally behind Fitzy's Bakery as planned just as the sun began to peek over the horizon. Arah practically kissed the dirty littered London ground- Andre cringing in disgust and voicing his disapproval.

Jae showed up as scheduled, taking Norbert and promising him safe transport to Romania. They each took turns saying goodbye to little Norbert, except Andre who excitedly gave Jae a play-by-play of their entire night- dramatizing a few key moments for optimum story-telling.

"Well, I don't know about you lot, but I'm about to sleep for a year." Arah yawned as they sleepily muttered in agreement.

"Goodnight." Liz said blearily, "...or should I say good morning?"

"How about goodbye?" Andre chuffed, before turning to Barnaby, a grin still plastered on his face. "Thanks for keeping us alive, mate."

Barnaby felt the heat rush to his cheeks at his friend's praise. "It was nothing." he shrugged.

"Don't be humble, Lee." Andre patted him on the shoulder, "I'll be telling this story till the day I die. Anyways, Egwu out." he saluted before vanishing, a loud crack echoing throughout the ally.

"I better be off, too." Liz stifled a yawn. "Thanks for the adventure, Barnaby." she waved before apparating away, leaving Barnaby alone with Arah in the alleyway.

"For the record, I would have never supported you hurling yourself off a bloody broomstick onto a dragon's back a thousand feet in the air if I'd known that was your plan." Arah poked his chest furiously. Barnaby fought back a smile- he always found her irresistibly cute when she was this cross. "I mean really, what were you think-"

Barnaby snatched her hand, keeping her bony finger from prodding him again. "I know. Why do you think I didn't tell you to begin with?"

Arah pouted, her eyes darting over his, hand still ensnared in his grasp. "Never scare me like that again."

"Okay, okay." he raised his hands up in surrender- already missing the warmth of hers. Of course, he didn't actually mean it. He'd do it all again if it meant keeping his friends - no, his family safe. Especially her.

"I mean it." she pointed threateningly at him, her smirk giving her away from any real anger she might have felt toward him. "Goodnight, Barns."

"Goodnight, Arah." he smiled warmly before the woman he loved vanished before him with a crack.

A/N:

Please leave a comment/review (they really mean the world to me). Let me know what you thought of our Hogwarts Mystery friend's involvement in smuggling Norbert out of Hogwarts! I hope it felt real, authentic, and canon to the books. Hope you enjoyed it!