Chapter 16

Norbert The Dragon

For the next few weeks, the other three have been doing what they could to stand up for Quirrell and be encouraging, while I did my best to keep Harry far away from the man. Harry and I had not brought the topic of Snape vs Quirrell up again because we knew it would lead to a fight and neither of us were up for another one. After our first fight things were a little tense but we did our best to work through it. I wanted to go and talk to Snape about what I had figured out and what conclusion Harry had come to but I never had the chance. I couldn't let Harry know I had been talking to Snape about all of this and Hermione was constantly pushing us to study for our exams. She was making strict study schedules and was color coding everything, from the way she was acting you would think the exams were in a couple of days instead of ten weeks. Unfortunately all the teachers had the same idea as Hermione and kept adding homework. We all had so much work that I felt like I was seeing my textbooks in my sleep. She had us in the library at all hours either doing homework or studying. One day when we were in the library I was so engrossed in the piles of books that I didn't even notice Hagrid passing our table until Ron said something.

"Hagrid! What are you doing in the library?"

I looked up to notice the giant passing us holding something behind his back and out of our sight.

"Jus' lookin', An' what're you lot up ter?"

He looked suddenly suspicious.

"Yer not still lookin' fer Nicolas Flamel, are yeh?"

I gave a short laugh.

"Nah, we found out about him forever ago, not very difficult when the name is on the back of a chocolate frog card."

Ron decided to add to the statement a little too boldly.

"And we know what that dogs guarding, it's the sorcerer's st-"

Hagrid was quick to silence him before anyone could hear him.

"Shhhh! Don' go shoutin' about it, what's the matter with yeh?"

Harry smirked and decided to try and get some more information out of the loose lipped man.

"There are a few things we wanted to ask you, as a matter of fact, about what's guarding the Stone apart from Fluffy -"

Hagrid was quick to shush us again.

"SHHH! Listen - come an' see me later, I'm not promisin' I'll tell yeh anythin', mind, but don' go rabbitin' about it in here, students aren' s'pposed ter know. They'll think I've told yeh -"

This time I was the one to interrupt.

"But you did tell us, quite a bit in fact."

Hagrid groaned at that fact, probably cursing himself for not being able to keep a secret.

"Don' remind me. I'll see yeh later."

He walked off before we could say another word to him, or before he could tell us anything else he wasn't supposed to. Hermione had a curious look on her face as he walked away.

"What was he hiding behind his back? Was it something to do with the Stone?"

I shrugged.

"I doubt it, from what I could understand the only part he played in it was Fluffy, I doubt he wants to know anymore beyond that."

My statement made the other three more curious so Ron stood from the table intending to look at the section he was in. When he came back his arms were full of books and eyes full of gleam.

"Dragons! He was looking at stuff about dragons. Look at these: Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland; From Egg to Inferno, A Dragon Keeper's Guide."

Harry was looking at the books when he recalled a memory from when we first met Hagrid.

"Hagrid's always wanted a dragon, he told us so the first time we ever met him, "

Ron then became quizzical.

"But it's against our laws, Dragon breeding was outlawed by the Warlocks' Convention of 1709, everyone knows that. It's hard to stop Muggles from noticing us if we're keeping dragons in the back garden - anyway, you can't tame dragons, it's dangerous. You should see the burns Charlie's got off wild ones in Romania."

It was unusual to see Ron know so much about a subject. He usually isn't so informative.

"You must hear a lot of stories from Charlie."

"Oh yeah, he's awesome. He's taught me everything he knows about dragons, told me everyone else worries too much."

Harry then looked to Ron with a question.

"But there aren't wild dragons in Britain?"

Ron scoffed at the question.

"Of course there are, Common Welsh Green and Hebridean Blacks. The Ministry of Magic has a job hushing them up, I can tell you. Our kind have to keep putting spells on Muggles who've spotted them, to make them forget."

"But that doesn't answer what Hagrid is up to, it's not like he's hiding a dragon, right?"

The four of us looked at each other in mild panic at the possibility.

About an hour later, we were knocking on the door of Hagrid's small hut that suspiciously had all the curtains drawn closed. We heard Hagrid's gruff voice call to us from the other side of the door.

"Who is it?"

We saw one of the curtains to the window near the door move as he looked to see who was at the door. Once he saw it was us he fixed the curtain once more then opened the wood door to let us in. when we got in the heat hit us instantly. Not only was it a warm day to start with but there was also a blazing fire in the fireplace. Hagrid offered us some tea and sandwiches so we all sat around the table to talk. As he's pouring our tea he brings our conversation from earlier up.

"So - yeh wanted to ask me somethin'?"

Harry answered, determined to find out more on what secrets are under the trap door.

"Yes, We were wondering if you could tell us what's guarding the Sorcerer's Stone apart from Fluffy."

Hagrid frowned at his question.

"0' course I can't, Number one, I don' know meself. Number two, yeh know too much already, so I wouldn' tell yeh if I could. That Stone's here fer a good reason. It was almost stolen outta Gringotts - I s'ppose yeh've worked that out an' all? Beats me how yeh even know abou' Fluffy."

I raised my eyebrow.

"Would you like to know?"

His eyes went wide and gave an immediate answer.

"No, I don' wan' ter know anything 'bout wha' yeh four have bin up ter. The less I know, the better."

Hermione then spoke up, trying a more nice and warm tactic.

"Oh, come on, Hagrid, you might not want to tell us, but you do know, you know everything that goes on round here, We only wondered who had done the guarding, really. We wondered who Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him, apart from you."

Hagrid's chest swelled and we could tell that Hermione's way worked.

"Well, I don' s'pose it could hurt ter tell yeh that... let's see... he borrowed Fluffy from me... then some o' the teachers did enchantments... Professor Sprout - Professor Flitwick - Professor McGonagall –Professor Quirrell - an' Dumbledore himself did somethin', o' course. Hang on, I've forgotten someone. Oh yeah, Professor Snape."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione became worried when Hagrid listed Snape. I wasn't surprised that he was one of the teachers asked. He has been a teacher here for years and while not liked by most students, he was a well accomplished potions master.

"Snape?"

"Yeah - yer not still on abou' that, are yeh? Look, Snape helped protect the Stone, he's not about ter steal it."

Ha, I wanted so badly to tell them that I agreed but I knew it would create one big argument. I also know what everyone's reaction to my theory would be. Even Hagrid would laugh at the idea of weak stuttering Quirrell trying to steal the stone. However, not that I think about it, that might make it easier for him to find out more information on how to get to the stone. No one would ever suspect him. The one thing I can think of that he definitely hasn't accomplished yet is getting past Fluffy.

"Hey Hagrid, you are the only one who knows how to get past Fluffy right, no one else?"

"Not a soul knows except me an' Dumbledore."

Thank Merlin for that. I looked at the other occupants and saw that they were sweating just as bad as I was from this heat.

"Hey Hagrid, can you open a window, I'm cooking like a chicken in here."

"Can't, Hope, sorry."

He then went over to stoke the mighty fire some more while the four of us looked at something like a mighty big egg sitting in the fire. I looked at Harry and the same thought passed in our minds so Harry looked over to Hagrid to confirm our theory.

"Hagrid - what's that?"

"Ah, That's er..."

"Hagrid, please don't tell me that's a dragon egg."

He stayed silent, confirming that Harry and I were correct about our assumption. Ron's eyes were filled in fascination.

"Where did you get it, Hagrid? It must've cost you a fortune."

"Won it, Las' night. I was down in the village havin' a few drinks an' got into a game o' cards with a stranger. Think he was quite glad ter get rid of it, ter be honest."

I crossed my arms and scoffed.

"Hmm can't imagine why, it's just an illegal dragon egg that will grow to be bigger than a house."

Both Harry and Ron nudged me in the ribs for my comment. Hermione being the only other sensible one continued the conversation.

"But what are you going to do with it when it's hatched?"

Hagrid got up and went over to his bed to pull a book from under his pillow.

"Well, I've bin doin' some readin', got this otta the library."

I looked to see the title.

Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit

"It's a bit otta date, o' course, but it's all in here. Keep the egg in the fire, 'cause their mothers breath on 'em, see, an' when it hatches, feed it on a bucket o' brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour."

I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.

"An' see here - how ter recognize diff'rent eggs - what I got there's a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare, them."

He looked pleased with himself but Hermione and I shared worried glances.

"Um Hagrid, you do realize you live in a wooden hut right? Last I checked wood was really flammable and Dragons are known to breathe fire."

But Hagrid wasn't listening to our concerns, he went back to stroking the fire to maintain the heat on the priceless egg. Not long after we decided to leave since Hagrid was too focused on the egg and we had to get back to classes, this time with the extra worry for Hagrid on our minds. All we could think about were the many possible consequences from him being found out. The possibilities ranged from getting a hefty fine to jail time, neither were results we liked to think about. We continued on with doing our new massive amounts of homework and studying for the week when one morning we got a letter from Hagrid at breakfast that contained only two words.

It's Hatching!

Harry and Ron were instantly ready to ditch our Herbology class to watch but Hermione was quick to stop them while I was staying out of it knowing not to get between Hermione and going to class. They tried to argue that it was a once in a lifetime thing, but their argument fell on deaf ears. While they were arguing, they failed to notice the blonde ferret approaching so I quickly smacked them with a newspaper across the table to stop the topic before the little pain could hear anything. He eyed us oddly and I had a sneaking suspicion that he heard a word or two of the argument. Once he was far enough away I grabbed my stuff for the day and looked at the three of them.

"Come on before someone hears you and gets us in trouble, you can argue on the way."

They followed my example and packed up their things before following me out of the Great Hall and continued their argument. They finally came to an agreement to go to class but to go down to Hagrid's Hut on their morning break. We got through our lesson trying to not look too excited but when the bell rang we wasted no time rushing out of the greenhouse to make our way to Hagrid's. When we got there, a very flushed but excited Hagrid opened the door to let us in.

"It's nearly out."

We rushed inside and stood around the egg now placed on the main table. Unlike the first time we saw it, where it looked like a giant smooth rock, it now was covered in cracks and occasionally jolted with a clicking sound coming from the inside. Finally the egg burst and a brown scaly bat-like creature came spilling out from the now broken and empty shell. Once it got its bearings it looked up at all of us before sneezing cursing a burst of fire to come out of its nose. Hagrid was looking on like a proud parent with tears in his eyes.

"Isn't he beautiful?"

Hagrid stroked the tiny dragon's head like it was an innocent kitten while the dragon went to snap at his fingers with his pointed fangs.

"Bless him, look, he knows his mummy!"

The four of us were in disbelief as we watched Hagrid coo over his new beast. Hermione looked at Hagrid and asked a question that should be thought about sooner rather than later.

"Hagrid, how fast do Norwegian Ridgebacks grow, exactly?"

Hagrid turned to answer when all the color drained from his face as he looked out the window. He was out of his chair and ran to stare out the window at whatever caused his shock.

"Hagrid, what's wrong?"

I got up to stand beside him and look out the window to see what scared him so much and I saw the unmistakable blonde hair of Malfoy running away from the hut. I knew he overheard us and there was no way he didn't see the baby dragon.

Well fuck.

The smile that Malfoy wore for the next week showed just how much he actually saw, and it was not good. It made us feel like the other shoe would drop any minute and we were getting worried. At any moment Malfoy could tell one of the teachers about the dragon and have Hagrid fired, or worse imprisoned, at the drop of a hat. Most of our free time was spent with Hagrid trying to get him to see reason. Today when we came down, the Hut was covered in empty bottles of liquor and feathers with a smoke billowing dragon that was now three times as big as before.

"Hagrid, you need to set him free."

"I can't, he's too little, he'd die. I've decided to call him Norbert, he really knows me now, watch. Norbert! Norbert! Where's Mummy?"

Ron leaned up from behind us to mutter in our ears.

"He's lost his marbles."

Harry tried to help by reminding Hagrid exactly what was to come.

"Hagrid, give it two weeks and Norbert's going to be as long as your house. Malfoy could go to Dumbledore at any moment."

Hagrid bit his lip.

"I — I know I can't keep him forever, but I can't jus' dump him, I can't."

Harry's eyes brightened before turning to Ron.

"Charlie."

I was confused for a moment before it dawned on me what he meant.

"Harry, you're brilliant."

Ron looked at the two of us, not realizing what we were thinking.

"What are you two talking about, I'm Ron."

.I gave him a swift smack upside the head.

"We know that doofus, we mean your brother Charlie, the one in Romania, the one who works with dragons."

Harry chimed in to explain more of the plan.

"We could send Norbert to him. Charlie can take care of him and then put him back in the wild!"

Ron's face brightened with a smile.

"That's brilliant."

We turned to Hagrid to see how he felt about it. He contemplated for a minute before agreeing that it would be best to go ahead with the idea. After that, time seemed to drag on as we waited for a response from Charlie. Wednesday night, Harry, Hermione, and I were working on homework, waiting for Ron to come back from helping Hagrid with Norbert. The clock had just struck midnight when he finally came back with a bloody hand wrapped in a handkerchief.

"It bit me! I'm not going to be able to hold a quill for a week. I tell you, that dragon's the most horrible animal I've ever met, but the way Hagrid goes on about it, you'd think it was a fluffy little bunny rabbit. When it bit me he told me off for frightening it. And when I left, he was singing it a lullaby."

I sat him down next to me so I could see the damage, and it wasn't good. His hand was already swelling and was covered in blood. The marks from where the fangs entered his skin were red and purple. I went up to my room for a minute to grab a clean cloth and to dampen it to try and clean the wound. When I came back down, Harry was reading a letter with Hermione and Ron reading over his shoulders.

"Is that the letter from Charlie?"

Harry looked up from the letter and towards me to nod his head.

"He said to meet him and a couple of his friends at midnight Saturday at the top of the Astronomy Tower."

I nodded my head and sat on the couch next to Ron to try and tend to his hand.

"Now the problem is getting that thing to the top of the tower without being caught. Any ideas?

We thought about it for a minute when Harry spoke up.

"We could put Norbert in a crate and use the invisibility cloak, it should fit two of us, maybe three if we squeeze."

I nodded my head at the idea.

"If anything one of us can be out of the cloak if we stick to the shadows, be a lookout in a way. If anything I can see about getting peeves to help by keeping a lookout."

Ron winced at my tending to his hand then looked at me.

"Are you sure you can talk Peeves into it?"

"Probably, he loves any chance to cause mischief, it would just help if this mischief worked in our favor. I can't convince him all the time, but occasionally he is willing."

The four of us agreed to the plan, willing to do and risk anything to get rid of that dragon.

The next morning Ron's hand had at least doubled in size and was becoming more and more colorful. It seemed the bite was either poisoned, infected, or both. Ron tried to put off seeing Madam Pomfrey as long as possible, afraid she would recognize the bite of a dragon. But when his hand finally turned green, we brought him in with the lame excuse of it being a dog bite. She obviously didn't believe us, but luckily it didn't seem like she recognized the bite, so she did not push us for a better answer. Madam Pomfrey wanted to keep him for at least a couple of days to make sure the hand was healing right, but in that time Ron got a visit from Malfoy trying to scare him into thinking he was going to tell on us.

"Malfoy told Madam Pomfrey he wanted to borrow one of my books so he could come and have a good laugh at me. He kept threatening to tell her what really bit me, I shouldn't have hit him at the Quidditch match, that's why he's doing this."

We tried to calm him by reminding him that the dragon problem would be over soon. That's when Ron got a look of fear in his eyes.

"Oh no — oh no — I've just remembered — Charlie's letter was in that book Malfoy took, he's going to know we're getting rid of Norbert."

Before we could properly freak out Madam Pomfrey came and told us that visiting hours were over and that we had to leave. When we got back to the common room, which was luckily quiet, we decided that we had no choice but to risk it and move on with the plan. Saturday night we were able to sneak out to Hagrid's hut without much delay. We did run into Peeves, but with a little convincing, and a promise to aid him in some mischief in the future, he was willing to help us where he could. When we got there Hagrid wouldn't let us in because of how tricky Norbert was being. We kept hearing bangs and watched the windows shake multiple times before Hagrid finally came out with a crate holding Norbert. The giant had tears in his eyes as he had to say goodbye to his beloved dragon.

"He's got lots o' rats an' some brandy fer the journey, An' I've packed his teddy bear in case he gets lonely."

We didn't have the heart to tell Hagrid that we could hear the teddy bear being ripped up inside the crate. We decided early on that Hermione and Harry would be the ones under the cloak while I stuck to the shadows since I was the more perceptive one. As we made our way from the hut we could hear Hagrid crying out.

"Bye-bye, Norbert! Mummy will never forget you!"

It was tricky with how heavy the crate was, but we were slowly able to start getting it up the stairs. At one point when we were almost there Peeves floated by to let us know of an oncoming person. We quickly took to the shadows to watch McGonagall pulling Malfoy by the ear down the hall.

"Detention! And twenty points from Slytherin! Wandering around in the middle of the night, how dare you —"

"You don't understand, Professor. Harry Potter's coming — he's got a dragon!"

"What utter rubbish! How dare you tell such lies! Come on — I shall see Professor Snape about you, Malfoy!"

When they finally passed, we were trying so hard to hold in our laughter, lest we make enough noise to have someone hear us. Once we were able to calm down enough we continued our trek to the top of the Astronomy tower. We got there and waited for only about ten minutes when four men came from the night sky on broomsticks. One of them had the Weasley red hair and freckles but had broad shoulders with a tough strong look to him while still having a cheery disposition. We started introducing ourselves and when we got to me Charlie interrupted.

"I would know you anywhere with how much Fred and George tell me about you, apparently you're just as much trouble as they are."

I gestured to the crate holding the dragon.

"Evidently they were right."

We had a good laugh before we all worked together to get the crate harnessed onto the brooms. One it was safe and secure, we gave our goodbyes and happily watched as they took Norbert away deep into the night. We went to climb back down the staircase, our hearts light and filled with glee. That was until we got to the bottom of the steps to find Filch waiting for us. When He spotted us, it was then we realized that we forgot the invisibility cloak.