Don't be a silent reader
In the weeks every time they passed the third-floor corridor, Harry, Ron, Draco, Aishi and Hermione would press their ears to the door to check that Fluffy was still growling inside. Snape was sweeping about in his usual temper, which surely meant that the Stone was still safe.
Whenever Harry passed him these days he gave him an encouraging sort of smile, and Ron had started telling people off for being mean to Snape.
"Is this your doing jackson?" Snape asked percy when he noticed the changes "Nope all you Snape....all you" She said
Hermione, however, had more on her mind than the Sorcerer's Stone. She had started drawing up study schedules and colour-coding all her notes. Harry, Draco, and Ron wouldn't have minded, but she kept nagging them to do the same.
"Hermione, the exams are ages away." "Ten weeks," Hermione snapped. "That's not ages, that's like a second to Nicolas Flamel." "try that" Harry muttered remembering his godly family who are immortal.
"But we're not six hundred years old," Ron reminded her. "Anyway, what are you studying for, you already know it all. Even Aishi doesn't look like she is smart"
"Yeah! wait Hey!" Aishi pouts"What am I studying for? Are you crazy? Do you realize we need to pass these exams to get into the second year? They're very important, I should have started studying a month ago, I don't know what's gotten into me. " "You not the only one who thinks that"
Unfortunately, the teachers (except percy who made sure kids took breaks from studying ) seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Hermione. They piled so much homework on them that the Easter holidays weren't nearly as much fun as the Christmas ones. It was hard to relax with Hermione next to you reciting the twelve uses of dragon's blood or practicing wand movements.
Moaning and yawning Harry, Draco, and Ron spent most of their free time in the library with her, trying to get through all their extra work. Aishi was OK but she gets distracted at times.
"I'll never remember this," Ron burst out one afternoon, throwing down his quill and looking longingly out of the library window. It was the first really fine day they'd had in months. The sky was a clear, forget-me-not blue, and there was a feeling in the air of summer coming. Harry, who was looking up "Dittany" in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, didn't look up until he heard Aishi say, "Hagrid! What are you doing in the library?"
Hagrid shuffled into view, hiding something behind his back.
He looked very out of place in his moleskin overcoat. "Jus' lookin'," he said, in a shifty voice that got their interest at once. "An' what're you lot up ter?" He looked suddenly suspicious. "Yer not still lookin' fer Nicolas Flamel, are yeh?""Oh, we found out who he is ages ago," said Ron impressively. "And we know what that dog's guarding, it's a Sorcerer's St -"
"Shhhh!" Hagrid looked around quickly to see if anyone was listening. "Don' go shoutin' about it, what's the matter with yeh?" "There are a few things we wanted to ask you, as a matter of fact," said Harry, "about what's guarding the Stone apart from Fluffy -" "SHHHH!" said Hagrid again. "Listen - come and 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 -" "See you later, then," said Harry. Hagrid shuffled off. "What was he hiding behind his back?" said Draco thoughtfully. "Do you think it had anything to do with the Stone?"
"I'm going to see what section he was in," said Ron, who'd had enough of working. He came back a minute later with a pile of books in his arms and slammed them down on the table. "Dragons!" he whispered." Hagrid was looking up stuff about dragons! Look at these: Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland; From Egg to Inferno, A.Dragon Keeper's Guide." "Hagrid's always wanted a dragon, he told me so the first time I ever met him," said Harry.
"But it's against our laws," said Ron. "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." "But there aren't wild dragons in Britain?" said Aishi. "Of course there are," said Ron. "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." "So what on earth's Hagrid up to?" said Hermione.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When the gang knocked on the door of the gamekeeper's hut an hour later, they were surprised to see that all the curtains were closed. Hagrid called "Who is it?" before he let them in, and then shut the door quickly behind them. It was stifling hot inside. Even though it was such a warm day, there was a blazing fire in the grate. Hagrid made them tea and offered them stoat sandwiches, which they refused.
"So - yeh wanted to ask me somethin'?" "Yes," said Harry. There was no point beating around the bush. "We were wondering if you could tell us what's guarding the Sorcerer's Stone apart from Fluffy." Hagrid frowned at him. "O' course I can't," he said. "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 never met Fluffy but he sounds like a sweetheart!" Aishi said "If you want to be bitten that is" Draco said "Oh, come on, Hagrid, you might not want to tell us, but you do know, you know everything that goes on around here," said Hermione in a warm, flattering voice. Hagrid's beard twitched and they could tell he was smiling. "We only wondered who had done the guarding." Hermione went on. "We wondered who Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him, apart from you." Hagrid's chest swelled at these last words. The gang beamed at Hermione. "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 - Pro-
fessor McGonagall -" he ticked them off on his fingers, "Profes-
sor Snape - an' Dumbledore himself did somethin', o' course.
Hang on, I've forgotten someone. Oh yeah, Professor Quirrell. He didn't ask your mother cause she came later"
"Quirrel?" "Yeah," Harry knew the others were thinking the same as he
was. If Quirrel had been in on protecting the Stone, it must have
been easy to find out how the other teachers had guarded it. He probably knew everything - except, it seemed how to get past Fluffy and how to do it without Dumbledore knowing.
"You're the only one who knows how to get past Fluffy, aren't you, Hagrid?" said Harry anxiously. "And you wouldn't tell anyone, would you? Not even one of the teachers?" "Not a soul knows except me an' Dumbledore," said Hagrid proudly. "Well, that's something," Harry muttered to the others. "Hagrid, can we have a window open? I'm boiling." Aishi said fanning herself with her hand
"Can't, Aishi, sorry," said Hagrid. Harry noticed him glance at the fire. Harry looked at it, too."Hagrid, what's that?" But he already knew what it was. In the very heart of the fire, underneath the kettle, was a huge, black egg. "Ah," said Hagrid, fiddling nervously with his beard, "That's - er . . ." "Where did you get it, Hagrid?" said Ron, crouching over
the fire to get a closer look at the egg. "It must've cost you a fortune."
"Won it," said Hagrid. "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."
"But what are you going to do with it when it's hatched?" said Draco. "Well, I've bin doin' some readin'," said Hagrid, pulling a large book from under his pillow. "Got this outta the library - Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit - it's a bit outta date, o' course, but it's all in here. Keep the egg in the fire, 'cause their mothers breathe on 'em, see, an' when it hatches, feed it on a bucket o' brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour. An' see here - how ter recognize diff'rent eggs - what I got there's a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare, them." He looked very pleased with himself, but Hermione and Draco didn't. "Hagrid, you live in a wooden house," she said.
But Hagrid wasn't listening. He was humming merrily as he stoked the fire. So now they had something else to worry about: what might happen to Hagrid if anyone found out he was hiding an illegal dragon in his hut."Wonder what it's like to have a peaceful life," Ron sighed, as evening after evening they struggled through all the extra homework they were getting. "Trying living my mum's life....this is more peaceful" Harry muttered which confused Aishi
Hermione and Draco had now started making study schedules for Harry, Aishi, and Ron, too. It was driving them nuts except for Aishi who was used to those types and it helped a lot. Then, one breakfast time, Hedwig brought Harry another note from Hagrid. He had written only two words: It's hatching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ron wanted to skip Herbology and go straight down to the hut.
Hermione wouldn't hear of it.
"Hermione, how many times in our lives are we going to see a
dragon hatching?" "We've got lessons, we'll get into trouble, and that's nothing to what Hagrid's going to be in when someone finds out what he's doing -" "Shut up!" Harry whispered. Puecy was only a few feet away and he had stopped dead to listen. How much had he heard? Harry didn't like the look on Puecy's face at all. But a smile from Aishi scared him away.
Ron and Hermione argued to Herbology and in the end, Hermione agreed to run down to Hagrid's with the others during morning break. When the bell sounded from the castle at the end of their lesson, the three of them dropped their trowels at once, met Draco who finished History of Magic, and hurried through the grounds to the edge of the forest.
Hagrid greeted them all, looking flushed and excited. "It's nearly out." He ushered them inside. The egg was lying on the table. There were deep cracks in it. Something was moving inside; a funny clicking noise was coming from it. They all drew their chairs up to the table and watched with bated breath. All at once there was a scraping noise and the egg split open. The baby dragon flopped onto the table. It wasn't exactly pretty; Harry thought it looked like a crumpled, black umbrella. Its spiny
wings were huge compared to its skinny jet body, it had a long snout with wide nostrils, stubs of horns, and bulging, orange eyes. It sneezed. A couple of sparks flew out of its snout. "Bless you!" Aishi giggled which made the dragon look at her curiously
"Isn't he beautiful?" Hagrid murmured. He reached out a hand to stroke the dragon's head. It snapped at his fingers, showing pointed fangs. "Bless him, look, he knows his mommy!" said Hagrid "Hagrid," said Hermione, "how fast do Norwegian Ridgebacks grow, exactly?" Hagrid was about to answer when the color suddenly drained from his face - he leaped to his feet and ran to the window. "What's the matter?" "Someone was lookin' through the gap in the curtains - it's a kid - he's runnin' back up ter the school." Harry bolted to the door and looked out. Even at a distance, there was no mistaking him. Malfoy had seen the dragon.
"Aishi put it down!" Draco freaked seeing Aishi holding the dragon who looked at her. "What? I wanted to hold her!" The dragon surprised everyone by not attacking her and snuggled into Aishi's arms who then moved her to her lap and set sits down.
The dragon started to move around in excitement until aishi pulled out a flute from her robe pocket and played an enchanting tune. The little dragon yawns and falls asleep on her lap as everyone is mesmerized by the alluring music making them forget their worries and sorrows.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Something about the smile lurking on Puecy's face during the next week made them very nervous. They spent most of their free time in Hagrid's darkened hut, trying to reason with him. "Just let him go," Harry urged. "Set him free." "I can't," said Hagrid. "He's too little. He'd die." They looked at the dragon. It had grown three times in length in
just a week. Smoke kept furling out of its nostrils. Hagrid hadn't been doing his gamekeeping duties because the dragon was keeping him so busy. There were empty brandy bottles and chicken feathers all over the floor. "I've decided to call him Norbert," said Hagrid, looking at the
dragon with misty eyes. "He knows me now, watch. Norbert! Norbert! Where's Mommy?"
"But he is a girl...You should name her Norberta" Aishi said as the dragon growled and cuddled around her neck after flying to her.
"He's lost his marbles and the dragon likes Aishi more," Ron muttered in Harry's ear. "Hagrid," said Draco loudly, "give it two weeks and Norbert's going to be as long as your house. Puecy 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, can't." Harry suddenly turned to Ron. "Charlie," he said. "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 her and then put her back in the wild!"
"Brilliant!" said Ron. "How about it, Hagrid?" And in the end, Hagrid agreed that they could send an owl to Charlie and asks him. The following week dragged by. Wednesday night found Harry sitting alone in the common room, long after everyone else had gone to bed. The clock on the wall had just chimed midnight when the portrait hole burst open. Aishi appeared out of nowhere as she pulled off Harry's Invisibility Cloak. She had been down at Hagrid's hut, helping him feed Norbert, who was now eating dead rats by the crate.
"She bit Ron. He scared her so I had to play music again to calm her down" she said, "He's not going to be able to hold a quill for a week. That is for sure"
"Well, at least she will go somewhere for her safety. If Mom learns what I am doing she will faint." Harry said before changing the topic "That flute...I had seen it before but that was the first time I heard you play it"
"It was a gift from a dear friend. He said I can play it if I need him or if I just want to. It's really special and one of a kind."
"Can you play a tune again?" Harry said. Aishi sighed and pulled out the flute again. She slowly plays a melodious tune which fills the room with warmth and light.
Suddenly there was a tap on the dark window. "It's Hedwig!" said Harry, hurrying to let her in. "She'll have Charlie's answer!" The two of them put their heads together to read the note.
Dear Ron and his friends,
How are you? Thanks for the letter - I'd be glad to take the Norwegian Ridgeback, but it won't be easy getting him here. I think the best thing will be to send him over with some friends of mine who are coming to visit me next week. The trouble is, they mustn't be seen carrying an illegal dragon. Could you get the Ridgeback up the tallest tower at midnight on Saturday? They can meet you there and take him away while it's still dark. Send me an answer as soon as possible.
Love,
Charlie
They looked at one another. "We've got the Invisibility Cloak," said Harry. "It shouldn't be too difficult - I think the cloak's big enough to cover two of us and Norbert." It was a mark of how bad the last week had been that the other two agreed with him. Anything to get rid of Norbert - and Puecy.
Bonus
"Hari it's late you should go to sleep," Aishi said. He yawned and sighed " your right, night Aishi." Harry said heading to bed. Once he was gone she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Safe yar," She said before feeling a tap on her shoulder and turning to the person next to her. "I didn't call you this time. You can go "
"But why when I am already here, little Aishi," a tall, dark-skinned man with a peacock feather pinned into his hair said leaning on the couch next to her smiling. "I am hungry for delicious keer"
"You and your keer Kanna," She said smiling at lord Krishna "Come let's go to the kitchens. You should try the cookies as well!"
"Cookies? "
Bonus Bonus
"Hey look percy is heading to the kitchens," James said they watched a tired percy heading to the kitchens for a late snack.
"Mmm hey elves I need a......" Percy froze when she saw Aishi on top of Krishna's back trying to take a cookie from him.
"Hi there," Krishna said smiling and Aishi bit the cookie he held.
Percy just stares and slowly shuts the door. James and hades were laughing at percy reaction and karan sighed embarrassed but happy seeing the bond of sibling between Aishi and Krishna