Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Bailey and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
A Dog's Purpose Is Strange Magic Chapter 42
Because of the threat Malfoy now represents Harry, Ron, and Hermione walk around Hogwarts very nervous. The evil smile lurking on his face over the next few days is a testament to their unease.
As much as they can the group spends their time in Hagrid's darkened hut, trying their best to reason with him to either confide in Dumbledore or set the hatchling free.
But Hagrid is too enamored with the dragon to think of anything else. He's in complete denial about his situation and wants to keep the dragon he's now decided to call Norbert all to himself. Plus, he keeps barraging them with the same argument that the dragon hatchling is far too little and would die out there in the elements with no one to care for or defend it. In this alone, his point is well-spoken. All the rest is plain stupidity.
Hagrid has lost his marbles. And the trio needs to find a lucrative way to use their wits in order to help him get back on track and out of this jam. To cover a multitude of options that much their chagrin doesn't even exist.
Doesn't matter to Bailey. It all ends the same. She likes to spend time with the dragon hatchling. Norbert may have grown three times in length in just a week alone, but the hatchling still is a baby in her eyes. Also, something Bailey doesn't understand is why they're using a dragon's name to identify the baby when it is a female like her.
Guess they haven't figured that out yet.
Wonder how long it'll take them until they learn about it on their own.
Hagrid refers to himself as the dragon's mother and that the hatchling thinks so, too.
That is something Harry, Ron, and Hermione all full-heartedly contest with from the get-go.
Judging by how "Norbert" is constantly trailing after Bailey inside the hut and looking at the red retriever to feed her is very contradictory to his claim. Hagrid may be able to feed her whenever Bailey is not present, but each time she does show up only she can pass bits of chicken for the infants' meals that the gamekeeper had already prepared. Yes, the majority still has to be mixed in with that brandy, but Bailey decides to chew some up and then pass the softened meat to the hatchling. And whenever the dragon hatchling is being too naughty Bailey disciplines it with a well-timed bite. Just as its actual mother would in the wild.
Unable to tolerate Hagrid's plain disregard for his safety and freedom at stake, loudly, Harry said "Hagrid, give it two weeks and Norbert's going to be as long as your house. Malfoy could go to Dumbledore at any moment to rat you out."
Hagrid bit his lip in reluctance, behaving far too apprehensive.
"I know I can't keep him forever, but I just can't dump him. I can't," said Hagrid, crestfallen.
Suddenly turning to Ron, eyes wide and mind fit to bursting with a brilliant idea, Harry said "Charlie."
"You're losing it, too," said Ron. "I'm Ron, remember?"
"No, Charlie. Your brother, Charlie. In Romania. Studying dragons. We could send Norbert to him. Charlie can take care of him and then put him back in the wild once he's old enough."
"Yeah," concurred Ron, excitedly. "How about it, Hagrid?"
And in the end, Hagrid agreed that they could send an owl to Charlie to ask him.
So at least now there's a possible plan in place. All they can do now is wait and assist Hagrid in whatever way they can to keep the newborn dragon hidden. Though not without its hindrances. Ron ended up getting bit by Norbert when he was trying to give it some food. Bailey wasn't there to prevent it so it was unavoidable.
Good fortune to them that they won't have to contend with this for much longer. Ron's brother Charlie is fast to reply to the letter they recently sent out on Hagrid's behalf. Turns out a couple of his friends are going to be en route to visit him in a few days and will be passing by Hogwarts on Saturday during their journey on broomsticks. They can stop by at midnight, so they're not caught transporting an illegal dragon. So Harry, Hermione, and Bailey would meet them at the tallest tower with the hatchling in tow. They certainly don't waste time in sending a reply back to Charlie in confirmation.
Things seem to be going well. Looks like all of them might be able to make it out of this mayhem in one piece.
Fate intends to have other things in store for them.
A serious setback stands in their way that makes all their anxiety levels shoot through the roof.
The bite on Ron's hand had deteriorated so badly that he had no choice but to go to Madame Pomfrey for help. While he was there getting treated Malfoy shows up to taunt him about the bite and goading him about the newborn dragon. Predictably Malfoy's threats to tell Madame Pomfrey what bit him are just bluffs, but that's not what's got them so nervous. Charlie's letter was stuck in the pages of the book Malfoy wanted to borrow as a ploy to get inside the Hospital Wing.
The three of them immediately dispatch Bailey to track Malfoy to retrieve the book and the letter. By the time she locates the boy in an empty corridor he's already read through the entire correspondence and is gleefully relishing in his apparent victory of getting the three of them expelled.
Not if Bailey has anything to say about it.
Sneaking up on him while he's distracted Bailey snatches the letter out from his fingers, bolting back for the Hospital Wing before Malfoy has sufficient time to react in retaliation.
Malfoy can't use the letter as evidence against them, but the damage has already been done. Malfoy is now fully aware of exact day and time they're getting rid of Norbert. Bailey can't exactly relay this to them, but knowing Malfoy they get the gist.
It's too late to change the plan now. Besides the reward outweighs the risk regardless.
While Ron is on bedrest in the Hospital Wing as his hand recovers Harry, Hermione, and Bailey go to Hagrid's to update him.
They found Fang sitting outside with a bandaged tail. As Hagrid opens a window to talk to them Bailey approaches Fang. He whimpers as she sniffs the bandage and gives it a small lick. She then nuzzles his large head, providing some extra comfort from the suspected burn.
"I won't let you in," puffed Hagrid. "Norbert's at a tricky stage. Don't worry. Nothing I can't handle."
When they informed him about Charlie's letter, his eyes filled with tears. Although that might have been from Norbert biting him on the leg.
Grunting from the sharp teeth, Hagrid said "It's all right. He only got my boot. Just playing, he's only a baby, after all."
The baby banged its tail on the wall, making the windows rattle.
Bailey barks at the baby from her side of the wall in admonishment, disapproving of how the little one is acting.
A whine is heard from within and the baby settles down.
At last, the big night came. It was a very dark, cloudy night and they were a bit late arriving since they had to wait for Peeves to get out of their way in the entrance hall. The poltergeist would've blown the entire operation if he'd seen the,
Hagrid had Norbert packed and ready in a large crate that would be carried between Harry and Hermione underneath the Invisibility Cloak.
In a muffled voice, barely keeping it together, Hagrid said "He's got lots of rants and some brandy for the journey. And I've packed his teddy bear in case he gets lonely."
Originating from inside the crate came ripping noises that sounded to Bailey as though the teddy was having his head torn off.
On the way to the tallest tower Harry, Hermione, and Bailey receive a surprise.
Professor McGonagall is dragging Malfoy by the ear. She's ranting about him wandering about in the middle of the night, removing 20 points from Slytherin House as punishment, and declaring detention. Malfoy is trying to tell her about the dragon hatchling, but she's not believing a single word of it for a second. She's deadest on waking Professor Snape and speaking to him about Malfoy's brazen rule-breaking.
Thanks to the Invisibility Cloak the three of them aren't caught by the pair and continue up their way into the castle's tallest tower.
Harry and Hermione are delighted that Malfoy is now facing instant karma. Nothing could make them happier.
All they have to do now is wait as Bailey lies beside the crate to keep Norbert calm. About ten minutes later, four broomsticks came swooping down out of the darkness. Charlie's friends were a cheery lot. They showed Harry and Hermione the harness they rigged up, so they could suspend Norbert between them. They all helped buckle Norbert's safety into it. As they shake hands with Harry and Hermione, Bailey whines, poking her nose in one of the air holes of the crate, saddened to have to watch the baby she sees as hers leave. Norbert is just as upset. Bailey licks the baby dragon's face through the hole in love, affection, and farewell. A gesture Norbert returns.
Charlie's friends then take off. The three of them watched until the specks in the distance vanished into the night sky, disappearing entirely.
Bailey is left brokenhearted as Harry and Hermione are elated. She recalls the vision in the Mirror of Erised with her being surrounded by a brood of puppies of her very own. Bailey is going to have to wait a lot longer before that dream becomes reality.
On the way down the spiral staircase, Harry and Hermione are so lost in the pleasure of their content satisfaction in the conjoined success that they make a crucial error.
The Invisibility Cloak is forgotten, absentmindedly left behind on the top of the tower.
Filch's face looms out of the darkness at them immediately after they step into the corridor.
"Well, well, well, we are in trouble," he whispered, eyes glittering with malevolence in cornering them.
Busted.
Authors Note:
I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D