Chapter -93.
Hogwarts Castle was under a spell that rendered regular electronic devices useless within its walls; even flashlights failed to operate, leaving only old-fashioned cameras—like the original Colin's camera—functional.
Dudley extended a finger, and a brilliant beam burst forth from its tip, illuminating the perilous Forbidden Forest like a powerful flashlight as he strolled casually through its depths.
The illumination spell, the sole magic Dudley had mastered, had transformed into something more remarkable.
Not limited to just his fingertip, he found that he could make any part of his body radiate light, should he choose to do so. (Literally any)
Typically, Dudley avoided venturing into the Forbidden Forest after dark due to its numerous dangers and the scarcity of collectable materials; magical plants that thrived at night were few and far between compared to those blooming during the day.
But what brought him here tonight was not for gathering materials.
He ventured deeper into a somewhat isolated section of the Forbidden Forest, pointed his glowing fingertip at the sky, and waved it about.
"Roar!"
Soon enough, a deep roar reverberated from above, followed by a majestic winged creature, nearly matching Dudley's height, gracefully descending from the sky.
"You've grown, Nobby," Dudley murmured, gently stroking the dragon's scaly body, its edges sharp and incredibly resilient.
This winged creature was the dragon, Nobby, whom Dudley summoned.
"Roar!" The young dragon grumbled at Dudley, clearly displeased.
"Unpleasant."
The dragon's annoyance at its name—Nobby—was evident in its limited vocabulary; it didn't like either Nobby or Nobber.
It felt it merited a more formidable name, something like Nysario; it had liked that name ever since Dudley first mentioned it. Unfortunately, Dudley chose to disregard its feelings completely. After all, Nysario was gone, but Nobby was here and very much alive.
In this world, while dragons may not exhibit the high intelligence often attributed to them in fantasy tales, they possess a certain wisdom, eschewing the notion of being mere beasts. At least this dragon understood what it was and didn't view Hagrid as a maternal figure.
That sense of dissatisfaction lingered until Dudley retrieved a small bag from his backpack.
"Roar!"
'Give it to me!'
The little dragon's eyes fixated on the small bag in Dudley's hand, as the tantalizing scent wafting from it made its mouth water uncontrollably.
Inside was food for magical creatures, specifically crafted for reptiles.
The young dragon yearned to devour it but hesitated to snatch it away, aware that Dudley possessed the strength to easily overpower it.
It vividly recalled the first time it tried to take food from Dudley's hands, only to be pinned to the ground effortlessly. That display of power left a lasting impression.
Even after its growth, it still refrained from any reckless behavior.
Once it matured, it planned to teach Dudley a lesson for his playful teasing.
"Would you like a bite?" Dudley slowly opened the bag, and immediately, the aroma intensified.
"If you want some, you'll need to remember to say please, and keep in mind that I'm your owner."
Despicable human, you won't make me bow to you; it's just food! I'd rather starve...
Dudley widened the opening of the bag further while the scent enveloped them both.
"Roar!"
'Owner!'
This little dragon, once a treasure Hagrid was reluctant to part with, was now under Dudley's care. Hagrid had caused it injury, so it didn't seem unreasonable to acquire a dragon in exchange, right?
Eat, eat, eat; that singular thought filled the dragon's mind.
With a repetitive thud, its tail battered the ground, scattering the surrounding grass—a sight more reminiscent of an eager puppy than a dragon.
No creature could resist Dudley's culinary creations.
From the start, Levi had succumbed, as had Mrs. Loris, and now the little dragon was no exception.
This ability surpassed even his skills in potion-making.
'So delectable.'
As it savored the exquisite food, the little dragon felt an overwhelming craving for more; it was, without a doubt, the finest meal it had ever tasted.
Although it had hunted in the Forbidden Forest before, those prey merely satisfied its hunger without offering any real flavor.
It was almost addictive; after three days without this delicious fare, it would feel awful, and everything else would taste bland.
Humans were a truly frightening species—strong and capable of crafting such delightful dishes.
The little dragon reflected.
One human had given it life, while this one now fed it; both were formidable beings.
It licked the remnants from its mouth, content, letting out a burp as a small flame flickered from its nostrils.
Feeling satisfied after its feast, the little dragon squinted in pleasure when Dudley's voice broke through its contentment. Dudley stroked the dragon's increasingly robust body: "Nobby, you're progressing beautifully. Soon, you'll be able to soar me through the skies."
This was his true intent in allowing Hagrid to raise the dragon in the Forbidden Forest.
From their very first encounter, he had envisioned becoming a dragon rider.
With the notion in mind, the little dragon blinked nervously at Dudley, its large red-yellow eyes wide with terror, its short front paws flailing, and its head shaking like a rattle.
This brought up some unpleasant memories.
Initially, the little dragon thought carrying Dudley would be a simple task; just an ordinary human, and what harm could three be? That was until Dudley climbed onto its back.
In that moment, it felt as if a mountain had settled upon it.
It couldn't even manage to stand up, collapsing flat against the ground.
Since that incident, the little dragon never dared to carry Dudley so casually ever again.
Just as Dudley was about to continue his light-hearted banter with the little dragon, he noticed a shift and both he and the dragon turned their attention elsewhere.
A faint scent of blood was in the air, something was approaching, now within a kilometer.
No, it was closing in, now less than nine hundred meters away.
It was fast.
Drawing nearer.
The target was unmistakably heading towards them.
The little dragon growled lowly, its neck scales bristling in response to the threat even it, a top-tier predator, could not ignore.
Dudley quietly fell into meditation.
He reached for his pouch at his waist, retrieving several potions.
Now under five hundred meters.
Few creatures in the Forbidden Forest could achieve this speed.
Three hundred meters.
One hundred meters.
Right in front of them!
As if sensing the danger, the forest fell eerily silent—no buzzing insects, no chirping birds.
Suddenly, with a 'swish' and the rustling of leaves, a horse-like creature, faintly glowing and sporting a horn atop its head, burst from the trees.
A unicorn! Dudley immediately recognized it as a member of the unicorn herd that resided in the Forbidden Forest, despite its sparse neck fur—the very fur he had harvested.
The ground was stained with silver blood, a clear indication that this unicorn had sustained serious injuries.
But Dudley had no time to dwell on the unicorn's plight.
What posed the real danger to him and the little dragon wasn't the unicorn, but what was pursuing it.
Just then a dark green light erupted behind the unicorn.
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Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.