Whenever Harry passed by Quirrell in the recent days, he would give him a smile as if to encourage him, and Ron had started to reprimand people who laughed at Quirrell's stuttering.
Hermione, however, had more on her mind than the Philosopher's Stone. She began scheduling her revision sessions and color-coding her class notes to classify them: red for things she didn't understand, yellow for things she was learning, and green for things she had already learned. Most of her notes were yellow and green, but some red parts related to spell practice led her to focus on training with Harry, who showed incredible aptitude in spellcasting.
- Hermione, the exams are ages away.
- Ten weeks. - Hermione retorted to Ron. - Not ages, it's like a second for Nicolas Flamel.
- But we don't have six hundred years... - Harry reminded her with a grin. - Maybe, who knows, more than that. - He murmured in conclusion, with a mysterious air, making the girl roll her eyes and Harry's eyes gleam mysteriously like Dumbledore's.
- In any case, what are you revising if you already know everything? - Ron asked, trying to peek at her notes.
- What am I revising? Do you realize we need to pass these exams to get to the second year? They are very important, I should have started studying a month ago, I don't know what got into me... - Unfortunately, the professors seemed to be thinking the same way as Hermione. They assigned so much homework that the Easter holidays were not as fun as Christmas. It became difficult to relax with Hermione next to them, reciting the twelve uses of dragon's blood or practicing wand movements. Amidst groans and yawns, Harry spent most of his free time with her in the library, trying to handle all the extra assignments.
Their whole situation was really exhausting, especially for Harry and Hermione, who were using the secret gift given by Minerva daily, as he was a Divergent and would need to bear certain responsibilities in the future.
[ ... ]
- I'll never remember this. - Ron sighed one afternoon, dropping his quill on the table and looking longingly out the library window. It was actually the first nice day they had in months. The sky was clear, forget-me-not blue, and there was a sense of summer in the air. - Rubeus! What are you doing in the library? - Hagrid came shuffling in, hiding something behind his back. He looked very out of place in his mole-skin overcoat.
- Just looking... - Hagrid said in an insecure voice that immediately sparked their interest. - And what are you up to? - He suddenly seemed suspicious. - You aren't still looking for Nicolau Flamel, are you?
- Oh, we found out who he is ages ago. - Ron said to impress. - And you know what that dog is guarding, it's the Philosopher's St...
- RON! SHHH! - Harry and Hagrid hissed together, quickly looking around to see if anyone was listening. - Don't go shouting about it, what's gotten into you? - The gamekeeper finished.
- But, there are a few things we wanted to ask you. - Ron argued loudly. - About the other things protecting the Stone besides Fluffy...
- For crying out loud, Ron. - Harry said, making the boy blush at the scolding for exposing such secrets about the third floor. - Would you shut your mouth."
- Listen, come see me later, I'm not promising I'll tell you anything, mind you, but don't go spreading a secret around. Students aren't supposed to know about this. They'll think it was me who told you. - Hagrid explained with the trio's consent.
- See you later, Hagrid. - Harry agreed as Hagrid shuffled away.
- What was he hiding behind his back? - Hermione wondered aloud.
- I'll see what section he was in. - Ron volunteered, fed up a minute later with an armful of books he dropped onto the table. - Dragons... - He whispered. - Rubeus was looking up things about dragons! Look at these: Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland, From Egg to Inferno: A Dragon Keeper's Guide.
- Rubeus always wanted a dragon, he told me that the first time we met. - Harry commented.
- But it's against our laws. - Ron argued. - Breeding dragons was banned by the Warlocks' Convention of 1709, everyone knows that. It's hard to keep Muggles from noticing us if we breed dragons in the backyard. In any case, you can't tame dragons, it's dangerous. You should see the burns Charlie got from wild dragons in Romania.
- But aren't there wild dragons in Britain? - Harry asked.
- Of course there are! - Ron replied, rolling his eyes. - The Common Welsh Green and the Hebridean Black. The Ministry of Magic has a lot of work to keep them secret, I can guarantee you that. Our people keep enchanting Muggles who see them to make them forget.
- So, what could Rubeus be up to? - Hermione wondered.
- Taking care of his own business, and I think we should take care of ours too. Come on, Jean? - Harry said, cutting off the subject and standing up while gathering his books, followed by Hermione who took his hand, and they left the library together.
Hardly noticing the girl's flushed expression and look at the nickname Harry had started using, which was her last name, but he insisted that he would soon make her as powerful as the Dark Phoenix, Jean Grey, from the comics he always managed to read in secret from the Dursleys.
[ ... ]
When they knocked on the gamekeeper's cabin door an hour later, they were surprised to see that all the curtains were closed. Hagrid asked "Who is it?" before letting them in, then quickly shut the door once they entered.
It was suffocatingly hot inside the cabin. And although it was a very warm day, there was a fire blazing in the hearth. Hagrid made tea for them and offered them stoat sandwiches, which they declined.
- So, you wanted to ask me something?
- We did. - Harry said. There was no point in beating around the bush. - We were wondering if you could tell us what else is protecting the Philosopher's Stone besides Fluffy. - Hagrid scowled. - And don't look at me like that, I've already dropped the subject, but these two keep pestering me about it.
- Of course, I can't tell you. First, I don't know myself. Second, you already know too much, so I wouldn't tell you even if I did know. That Stone is here for a good reason. It was almost stolen from Gringotts. I suppose you've figured that out... I'm amazed you know about Fluffy's existence.
- Oh, come on, Rubeus, you may not want to tell us, but you know everything that happens around here. - Hermione said in a warm and flattering tone. Hagrid's beard twitched, and they realized he was smiling. - We just wanted to know who did the protective enchantments. - Hermione continued. - We were wondering who Dumbledore trusted enough to help him, besides you. - Rubeus's chest swelled at these words. Harry's face broke into a smile at Hermione, appreciating her genius manipulation, albeit subtly, she was learning.
- Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to tell you that... Let's see... He borrowed Fluffy from me, then some professors did the enchantments... Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall... - He counted on his fingers. - Professor Quirrell, and Dumbledore himself did something too, of course. Oh, I forgot someone. Ah, yes, Professor Snape.
- Snape?! - Ron asked in disbelief.
- Yeah, you don't still believe that idea, do you? Look, Snape helped protect the Stone, he's not about to steal it.
Harry knew Ron and Hermione were thinking the same thing he was. If Snape had been involved in protecting the Stone, it must have been easy for him to find out how the other professors had protected it. He probably knew everything, except, it seemed, the spell Quirrell had used and how to get past Fluffy.
And especially Quirrell, who shouldn't know how Snape created his protection.
- You're the only one who knows how to get past Fluffy, right, Rubeus? - Harry asked, eager. - And you wouldn't tell anyone, would you? Not even one of the professors?
- No one knows except me and Dumbledore. - Hagrid said proudly. - It's the rule of binding magic, each guardian hides the secret of how to get past their trap, so we avoid risks.
- Well, that's something, at least. - Harry murmured to the others. - Rubeus, can we open a window? These two look like they're about to turn into bacon.
- Can't, sorry, Harry. - Hagrid said. Harry noticed he was looking at the fire. Harry looked too.
- What is that? - But Harry already knew what it was. Right in the middle of the fire, under the kettle, was a large black egg.
- Ah! - Hagrid responded, nervously scratching his beard. - It's... Ah...
- Where did you get that, Rubeus? - Ron asked, bending down to the fire to look at the egg more closely. - That must have cost you a fortune."
- Won it, last night. I was in the village having a drink, got into a card game with a stranger. I think he was happy to get rid of the egg, to be honest.
- But what are you going to do with it when it hatches? - Hermione asked.
- Well, I've been reading up a bit... - Hagrid said, pulling a large book from under a pillow. - Got this from the library.
The Dragon Breeder's Handbook. It's a bit outdated, of course, but it's all here. Keep the egg in the fire because the mothers breathe fire on them, you know, and when it hatches, feed it a bucket of brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour. And look here: how to recognize different eggs, and this one is a Norwegian Ridgeback. Rare, they don't grow as ridiculously huge as the legendary ancient dragons, but it could still very well grow to the size of my cabin." He seemed very pleased with himself, but Hermione wasn't.
- Rubeus, you live in a wooden cabin. - The girl reminded him. - You know, w-o-o-d.
- Hermione, that's not a problem. - Harry said with a smile. - If Hagrid ever needs a place to hide it, he can come to me. I'd be happy to show him a rather interesting artifact. - He finished under the gamekeeper's curious gaze. His Muggle-repelling suitcase would certainly help in such a situation, and he wouldn't mind updating the bestiary with a Norwegian Ridgeback hatchling in the collection.
But Hagrid didn't listen anymore. He was cheerfully humming while stoking the fire.
Now they had one more thing to worry about: What could happen to Hagrid if someone discovered he was hiding an illegal dragon in his cabin.
Harry was already planning a way to take in the dragon if necessary, anything but making the first person who helped him in his miserable old life unhappy. Deep down, Harry already considered Hagrid a best friend.
[ ... ]
- I wonder what it's like to have a peaceful life. - Ron sighed, as night after night they struggled to keep up with all the extra homework they were getting. Hermione had now started scheduling Ron's revision sessions as well.
It was driving him crazy, while Harry had a taste for knowledge.
Then, one morning at breakfast, Hedwig brought another note from Hagrid to Harry. He had written just two words:
"Our son is hatching, hurry!"
Ron wanted to skip Herbology and go straight to the cabin. Hermione didn't want to hear about it.
- Hermione, how many times in our lives will we see a dragon hatching from an egg? - Ron asked, making her bite her lip nervously because deep down, she really wanted to see something as magical as that.
- We have classes, we'll get into trouble, and that's nothing compared to the situation Rubeus will be in when they find out what he's doing.
- Both of you, be quiet. - Harry whispered.
Malfoy was only a few steps away and immediately stopped to listen. How much had he heard? Harry didn't like the expression he saw on Malfoy's face at all.
Ron and Hermione argued all the way to Herbology class, and in the end, Hermione agreed to run to Hagrid's house with the two during the morning break.
When the castle bell rang announcing the end of the class, the three of them dropped their trowels and ran across the grounds toward the edge of the forest. Hagrid greeted them, looking red and excited.
- It's hatching. - He said, leading them inside.
The egg was on the table. It had deep cracks.
Something was moving inside it, making a funny clicking sound.
Everyone pulled up chairs around the table and watched with bated breath.
Suddenly, they heard a scratching sound, and the egg cracked open. The baby dragon flopped onto the table. It wasn't exactly pretty; Harry thought it looked like a crumpled black umbrella. Its spiky wings were huge in contrast to its thin black body, it had a long snout with wide nostrils, stubs of horns, and bulging orange eyes.
It sneezed, sparks flew from its snout, and its bright eyes gleamed like emeralds when Harry was the first thing it saw.
- Isn't he beautiful? - Murmured Hagrid. He reached out to pet the dragon's head. The creature tried to bite his fingers, revealing sharp fangs.
- Bless him, look, he knows his mommy! - Exclaimed Hagrid.
- Rubeus. - Hermione asked. - How fast does a Norwegian Ridgeback grow? - Hagrid was about to respond when the color suddenly drained from his face. He jumped up and ran to the window.
- What is it? - Harry asked, puzzled, while smiling at the dragon seeking affection in his hand, which he soon petted like a pet.
- Someone was peeking through the gap in the curtains, a boy was running back to the school. - Harry rushed to the door and peeked outside. Even from a distance, there was no mistaking it: Malfoy had seen the dragon.
- "Ah, that little brat." - Harry mentally cursed, realizing the trouble Rubeus would get into with Hogwarts' biggest gossip. The others barely noticed, but they saw his eyes gleam with pure emerald power as the dragon cooed cutely, feeling the security that Harry represented there.
[ ... ]
Something about the smile that lingered on Malfoy's face during the following week kept Harry, Ron, and Hermione on edge. They spent most of their free time in Hagrid's dark cabin, trying to reason with him.
- Let the dragon go. - Hermione insisted. - Set him free.
- I can't. - Hagrid said. - He's too small, he'd die before he even left the grounds.
They looked at the dragon. It had tripled in size in a week. Smoke kept coming out of its nostrils. Hagrid wasn't doing his gamekeeper duties because the dragon kept him so busy. There were empty brandy bottles and chicken feathers all over the floor.
- I've decided to call him Norbert. - Hagrid announced, looking at the dragon with dreamy eyes. - He really knows who I am, look. Norbert! Norbert! Where's mommy?
- He's lost it. - Ron whispered in Harry's ear.
- Actually, I understand you, Hagrid. - Harry explained with a smile to the gamekeeper.
- I-I know I won't be able to keep him forever, but I can't just abandon him, I can't.
Hermione suddenly turned to Ron:
- Charlie. - She said.
- You too. - Ron replied. - 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 release him into the wild.
- Brilliant! - Exclaimed Ron. - What do you think, Rubeus?
- No! - Harry interrupted abruptly before the gamekeeper could respond. - I can help you, but only as a last resort. Fred and George can assist me with something only we know. This dragon won't be taken away. Can you trust us? - Harry asked Hagrid without revealing what he meant.
This chance left Hagrid quite euphoric and excited, because if the twins were involved, the dragon would surely be safe due to their ingenuity, along with Harry, who seemed to have a perfect way to hide it, even if he didn't know what yet.
Ron felt betrayed by his friend having secrets with his brothers that he didn't know, but it wasn't a surprise. Ron couldn't keep a secret without exposing it at the Gryffindor table or to Malfoy to show off.
For Harry, missing the chance to have a dragon was inconceivable, especially one that was gaining so much of his affection.
[ ... ]
The next week dragged on. Wednesday night found Hermione and Harry sitting alone in the common room, long after everyone else had gone to bed. The clock on the wall had just struck midnight when the portrait hole suddenly opened. Ron materialized, taking off Harry's Invisibility Cloak. He had been in Hagrid's cabin, helping to feed Norbert, now eating crates of dead rats.
- He bit me! - Ron said, showing his hand wrapped in a bloody handkerchief. - I won't be able to hold a quill for a week. I'll tell you, that dragon is the most horrible creature I've ever met, but listening to Rubeus, you'd think he was a cute bunny. When the dragon bit me, he scolded me for scaring him. And when I left, he was singing him a lullaby.
A tap was heard on the dark window:
- Hedwig? - Harry said, walking over to let her in.
The three of them put their heads together to read the note she carried:
"Dear Ron, How are you? Thanks for the letter. I'd be happy to take care of the Norwegian Ridgeback, but it won't be easy to send him to me. I think the best way is to send him with some friends who are coming to visit me next week. The problem is they can't be seen carrying an illegal dragon.
Could you take the dragon to the tallest tower at midnight on Saturday? They can meet you there and take him while it's still dark.
Send me a response as soon as possible.
Fondly,
Charlie Weasley."
They looked at each other. And Harry, somewhat angrily, confronted the redhead:
- You notified your brother with my owl without my consent?
- What's the problem? We need to keep the dragon safe. - Ron replied in a somewhat petulant manner, believing he had done the right thing, not liking being contradicted in Hagrid's cabin when Harry refused Charlie's help.
Harry hadn't thought the boy could act so immaturely just because he was closer friends with the twins than with Ron himself.
- Damn... Didn't you stop to think my owl could be tracked? Just with a hasty action like this, the Ministry of Magic might already know there's a dragon at Hogwarts, you fool. - Harry raged. - You're not only putting my neck on the line but also Hagrid's for harboring a dangerous beast within the castle grounds.
- Harry's right, Ron. You need to stop this tantrum. Your brothers are friends with Harry just like he is with you. Just because there's one more or one less secret doesn't make you excluded from anything. - Hermione stated as Ron huffed in irritation.
- Damn it! - Harry said, heading up to his room to figure out what to do with a baby dragon in his Muggle-repelling suitcase and how to circumvent the idea that he was now surely being tracked.
- We have our Invisibility Cloak. - Ron said. - It shouldn't be too hard. I think the cloak is big enough to cover two of us and Norbert to the place Charlie mentioned.
- No, damn it... I have that cloak, and I let you use it, believing you wouldn't be stupid enough to flaunt it to everyone... but it seems you are idiotic enough to want to show off with it in front of Draco. - Harry yelled at the boy. - Damn it, I don't even know who gave me this cloak, and I still haven't figured out if there's something wrong with it, because no one just gives away gifts like this.
- Forget Charlie, Ron. Harry is now the prime suspect if the dragon disappears. If anyone tracks Hogwarts mail, they'll see his owl as the only one carrying messages about dragons. It's all up to him what to do about it. - Hermione responded while pulling Harry's cloak and taking it to him in the dormitory, leaving behind a pouting Ron.
[ ... ]
Just when Harry thought the week couldn't get worse, amidst various dragon-handling studies, an unforeseen event occurred.
The next morning, the dragon bite had caused Ron's hand to swell, becoming twice its normal size. He didn't know if it was safe to seek Madam Pomfrey, wondering if she would recognize a dragon bite. By the afternoon, however, there was no choice. The cut had turned an ugly green. It appeared that Norbert's fangs were venomous.
Harry and Hermione rushed to the hospital wing at the end of the day and found Ron bedridden in a terrible state.
- It's not just my hand. - He whispered. - Although it feels like it's going to fall off. Malfoy told Madam Pomfrey he wanted to borrow a book from me, just to come and have a good laugh. He kept threatening to tell her what really bit me. I said it was a dog, but I don't think she believes it. I shouldn't have hit him in the Quidditch match, that's why he's acting this way.
Hermione tried to calm Ron down, while Harry tried to come up with a plan.
- Everything will end by midnight on Saturday. - Hermione said, but that didn't calm Ron one bit. On the contrary, he sat up very stiffly and started to sweat.
- Midnight on Saturday. - He said hoarsely. - Oh no... Oh no... I just remembered, Charlie's letter was in the book Malfoy took, he'll know we're getting rid of Norbert.
Harry and Hermione didn't even have a chance to respond. Madam Pomfrey appeared at that moment and made the two leave, saying Ron needed to sleep.
- It's too late to change the plan now. We don't have time to send another owl to Charlie, especially since the Ministry or something that controls the flow of magical creatures must be investigating.
- If Charlie's friends don't take him, they'll be detained like I would be. If I take the dragon far from here, Hagrid will suffer for it... There has to be a way to keep the dragon and still make it seem like a teenage prank or something. - Harry murmured, something that not even Hermione had thought of. Harry certainly knew more about the political laws of the wizarding world than she did, but then the question was, what would he do? - It doesn't matter, I never intended to give the dragon to Charlie... Not with my neck on the line for any of his friends to screw me over if discovered. I'll figure something out. - Harry finally said while touching his blazer, only to feel a small rectangular shape in the inner pocket.
Having said that, Hermione felt a little relieved because she trusted Harry and knew he hid plenty of things that could improve the situation.
[ … ]
They found Fang, the boarhound, sitting outside the cabin with his tail bandaged when they went to tell Hagrid, who opened the window to talk to them.
- I won't let you in. - He panted. - Norbert is going through a tough phase, nothing I can't handle alone. - When they told him about Charlie's letter, his eyes filled with tears, though that might have been because Norbert had just bitten his leg. - Ow! It's okay, he just bit my boot. He's playing, after all, he's just a baby.
- Hagrid, I won't let Charlie take him... trust me! I can find a way to hide him and always keep him near you. - Harry explained, calming the gamekeeper. - I promise you this, you helped me when I needed it most and brought me to Hogwarts. I will help you the same way, and no one will ever threaten the baby.
The baby dragon wagged its tail against the wall, making the windows rattle. Harry and Hermione returned to the castle, thinking Saturday might not come fast enough.
They would have felt sorry for Hagrid when it was time to say goodbye to Norbert if they weren't so worried about what they had to do. It was a very dark and cloudy night, and they were a bit late getting to Hagrid's cabin because they had to wait for Peeves to clear the way to the Entrance Hall, where he had been playing tennis against the wall.
Hagrid had packed Norbert into a large crate.
- I packed lots of rats and some brandy for the trip. - Hagrid said in a muffled voice. - And I tucked in the Boy-Who-Lived teddy bear in case he gets lonely. - Hagrid said, smiling at Harry's eye-roll, who couldn't believe people actually made dolls and toys of his image.
From inside the crate came a sound of tearing fabric that seemed to Harry like the dragon ripping the head off the teddy bear.
- Goodbye, Norbert. - Hagrid sobbed as Harry and Hermione covered the crate with the Invisibility Cloak and got under it. - Mommy will never forget you.
- Hagrid! I promised I would keep our daughter safe and near you, and that hasn't changed... Don't lose hope and trust me. Goodbye. - Harry's voice came from nowhere due to being under the cloak, but just that made the gamekeeper's heart warm with hope.
Harry was not only a good wizard but also a good friend. If there was one person he trusted more than Dumbledore, it was the boy who had captivated his attention as a best friend in such a short time.
It was a reciprocal feeling, just as Hermione was his best friend, Harry considered Hagrid his best friend.
[ … ]
How they managed to get the crate back to the castle without using magic or making noise, they would never say. Approaching midnight, they climbed with Norbert up the staircase of the entrance hall and through the dark corridors. Another staircase, another, not even one of Harry's shortcuts made the transport much easier.
- We're almost there! - Harry panted as they reached the corridor beneath the tallest tower.
Then a sudden movement ahead of them almost made them drop the crate. Forgetting they were already invisible, they shrank into the shadows, peering at the dark outlines of two people struggling a few meters away. A lamp flicked on.
Professor McGonagall, in a tartan dressing gown and hairnet, was holding Malfoy by the ear.
- Detention! - She shouted. - And twenty points from Slytherin. Wandering around at night, how dare you."
- You don't understand, Professor, Harry Potter is coming, he's bringing a dragon.
- Ridiculous! How dare you tell such lies. Come on, I'm going to talk to Professor Snape about you, Malfoy. He might be your godfather, but I know he's the one who will give you a proper scolding, and your father isn't here to threaten anyone. - She said, scolding him as the boy murmured that his father would hear about this audacity.
The steep spiral staircase up to the top of the tower seemed the easiest thing in the world after that. Only when they emerged into the cold night air did they shed the Invisibility Cloak, happy to breathe properly again. Hermione danced a sort of Scottish jig.
- Malfoy is getting detention! I could sing. - She said joyfully. - Now we just have to wait for Ron's brother and everything will be over.
- Calm down, Jean, because I'm not handing over the dragon. - Harry advised.
- What are you talking about? - She asked, only for Harry to quickly step out from under the cloak.
He took something from the inner pocket of his blazer and placed it on the ground, which Hermione could see was a tiny suitcase.
- Harry... - She was about to ask, but he quickly drew his wand.
- Engorgio. - Harry cast the spell, turning the tiny suitcase into a regular-sized one.
He took the dragon nestled in the box like a baby and quickly opened the suitcase, revealing a wooden staircase leading down to a room of sorts.
- Keep watch, I'll be quick, and throw red sparks into the suitcase if you hear anyone coming. - Harry instructed her, knowing she didn't know what to do.
[ … ]
It took about five minutes, five extremely short minutes for Harry, euphoric as he settled the dragon in an isolated and cozy section that he had been studying and preparing for, but very long for the anxious and euphoric girl outside the suitcase, who looked around constantly, through the crack in the door, the window, and tried to glimpse inside the suitcase, but only saw storage for potions and food.
However, everything improved when she saw him coming out and closing the suitcase. His shirt was torn, giving glimpses of some scars on his chest, but nothing recent or bloody.
- Diminuendo. - He cast again with his wand, shrinking the suitcase to its tiny size as she had seen before.
- Harry. Can you explain? I'm getting scared. - She said to him.
- This is a rare artifact, Jean. It's an interdimensional suitcase created by Newt Scamander... There are hundreds of creatures of the most varied kinds inside, and now I have a Norwegian Ridgeback in the collection," he said, smiling excitedly like a child who had received candy from their mother.
- Harry... You should hand it over to the Ministry, it's one of the most sought-after artifacts in recent decades. - She said, only for him to look at her in disbelief at the most ridiculous idea he'd ever heard.
- Hermione Jean Granger. - Harry said, making the girl shrink as her mind corrected her. - It was a gift, a gift from Niklaus Flamel before I boarded the Hogwarts Express... I'm not just going to give it to the Ministry for them to treat my babies as test subjects, not now that they see me as their mother.
- From Nicolau Flamel... Is that why you said you knew him? - She asked.
- Niklaus, yes, that's right, that's the only reason I wanted to find out about Nicolau Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone, because they are truly connected, and I wanted to discover who the person who gave me something so incredible really was. - Harry explained. For the first time, she noticed that everything Harry had been doing and studying was for his own well-being and discoveries, not for something noble and protective of the students as Ron often claimed about the Boy Who Lived's adventures. Finally, she realized that Harry wasn't acting as a supposed hero trying to stop a Dark Lord from stealing an artifact, but rather protecting what was his. - Now be quiet, this spell will take a lot out of me. - Harry said in order as he returned to the crate where Norbert had been a short time before.
He grabbed a medium-sized marble dragon statue, then pointed his wand and began drawing traces in the air:
- Draconifors. - His last spell of the day was cast, turning the statue of a dragon into a real dragon with physical aspects and behaviors extremely similar to Norbert's.
- I didn't know that one. - Hermione said in admiration as she watched the animal identical to Norbert move and nestle in the padded crate, while Harry panted from the pure magic drain due to the high level of transfiguration, which he wasn't ready to use perfectly.
- It's temporary... there's no way to create life with magic, and this is very advanced transfiguration for me to make permanent. - Harry explained. - But you surely know that. - He finished, making her blush in embarrassment, as she truly was the smartest girl in her year, and perhaps even the following years.
Now laughing about Malfoy being caught, they waited while the dragon thrashed inside the crate, playing with a torn teddy bear. After about ten minutes, four broomsticks emerged from the darkness, diving towards the tower.
Charlie's friends formed a lively group.
They showed Harry and Hermione the harnesses they had brought to suspend Norbert between them.
Harry then explained:
- There was a misunderstanding about the dragon... as we didn't have time to notify ahead of time," Harry explained to them, who seemed confused. Then the leader understood that the dragon in the crate was fake due to complex wand movements. He even had an irritated expression and finally widened his eyes when he saw Harry's scar, but Harry quickly interrupted with urgency.
Taking out five bottomless bags that he managed to arrange a few days earlier when he ordered from the Goblins, Harry credited 20 Galleons into each (USD 323,55), then said:
- This is for you and Charlie... it should cover the trip and extra for confidentiality. - Hermione was surprised by the high amount Harry credited into the bags through a rare Gringotts bank card, but what surprised her most was the balance on the card, reaching six figures.
If one Galleon was worth a hundred reais, imagine the immeasurable value his card contained in conversion to Dollars.
Everyone helped secure the fake Norbert well in the harnesses, and then Harry and Hermione shook hands with everyone and thanked them profusely. They might be carrying a fake dragon, but the monetary reimbursement of 20 Galleons per head excited them greatly. Imagine being on duty for just one night, and without even realizing it, having USD 323,55 easily credited into their pockets.
Finally, the dragon "was going"... And finally, Harry's and Hagrid's necks were free from any trouble, with the addition of a dragon to the collection.
They descended the spiral staircase without making a sound, their hearts as light as their hands, now that Norbert was out of them. No dragon, Malfoy detained, what could spoil this happiness?
The answer to their question was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
When they reached the corridor, Filch's face loomed out of the darkness.
- Well, well, well... - He whispered. - We're in trouble. - He said as if he were part of the duo.
They had left the Invisibility Cloak at the top of the tower. Harry berated himself for such a simple mistake after planning everything he would do. Well, it wasn't entirely his fault; the cloak always came to him when he moved too far away, but forgetting it was another matter.
- "Photographic memory, my foot... I need to stop letting the moment affect me so much." - He mentally cursed, his euphoria making him forget something so important.
At least his Muggle-repelling suitcase was well hidden in his blazer; he just needed to keep it under wraps.
- Come, dear. - Harry sighed, and the cloak immediately floated and moved as if it were sentient, properly draping itself over Harry and even lightly caressing his slightly sweaty face. - Let's go, Filch? We have a detention to schedule. - Harry said, linking arms with Filch and dragging him along despite the man's protests at such audacity, while Hermione stood in shock at the cloak's flight.
- You're in trouble... big trouble. - The caretaker said as if it were winning the lottery for him. But he soon shut up when his cat nestled on Harry's shoulder, and Harry began to ignore the man, accompanied by Hermione, who didn't know whether to laugh or cry at being caught.
But one thing was certain, this was the first time she and Harry had their adventure alone, and a warmth of pure adrenaline ignited in her chest, making her smile slightly with a sense of comfort and acceptance, having for the first time a friend to play and mess around with, and even though they were caught, she couldn't help but enjoy this closer bond with her best friend.
And with that, I conclude another chapter of Changed Prophecy.
I hope you are enjoying the plot, the writing, and the changes that are happening little by little around Harry.
Yes, Harry kept the dragon and for a future vision, imagine that the dragon could become a Toothless type in the future, the Night Fury from How to Train Your Dragon.
Hermione is gradually developing an adventurous side, and not so prim and proper, because, people, she can be bossy and spoiled..., but she is a child, and like any other child, wants to play and do things like that.
There is also a conversion of Galleons to Brazilian Reais that I included in the story so there are no doubts about the values. I'll leave a conversion list of the currencies below for those interested.
I will be waiting for you all in the comments section, don't forget to stop by and give awesome long texts of support.
This really helps with the motivation to continue, and I am close to finishing this first book. When I finish it, I will create another story, which will be the second book.
But don't worry, the link will be posted in the last chapter of the story. For now, enjoy the climax of the story and have fun. You guys are awesome. XD