Chapter 3
Harry
He and Luna had started meeting in the forest quite regularly now. At first, it had started as a way to learn more from each other but after a few meetings, it became their favorite pastime. He loved to be in her company, and he liked to think that Luna herself enjoyed his company.
She was his only true friend. But besides meeting her he spent the rest of his time analyzing the notes he had acquired from the chamber of Slytherin, they were relatively new notes in comparison to the books which contained knowledge which was now mostly outdated, though they described some spells. Spells which he thought could turn out to be useful were learnt others left as it is.
He also went over the dark arts book, The book was surprisingly good, and he had learnt some basic dark curses, he hoped that by the end of the year, he would be starting some medium-level curses but though dark arts were very useful during duelling the side effects they had on body and mind were too detrimental, and so he was not going to practice any of those spells except learn the theory and their counter curses.
It would be better if he learned some other aspects of magic like celestial or elemental. They did not possess such threats to magic and body as dark arts did and though taxing to cast they were very deadly against opponents in any situation one may find itself.
The last book on arithmancy and runes was actually good, the theories of both the branches of magic had not changed much in the centuries and it was quite recent as well which helped because it contained updated arithmancy. He had read it halfway through and it was turning out to be a boon of sorts, he had managed to excel in ancient runes and arithmancy and already both professor babbling and Vector had praised his understanding of arithmancy and runes.
LINE BREAK
“Luna “, he called out.
They were meeting at their usual spot though today he was going to take her deep into the woods and show her Norberta.
Norberta was usually aggressive against most in the forest and had grown into quite a spectacular beast though it would not harm him or Hagrid.
It was well known that if you managed to create a bond between a dragon and yourself, the dragon wouldn’t harm the person with whom the bond was formed rather it would think of the person as a friend and a companion.
His bond with Norberta went even deeper, Hagrid had many duties and was not always able to attend to the baby dragon, and so he had volunteered and cared for the baby dragon, he had developed a friendship and a deeper understanding it was almost like he could understand the mind of Norberta, and she could understand his.
“ Yes Harry “, she said carrying a foul of a thestral in her arms and cuddling it.
“ I would like to show you something though you must promise not to tell anyone “, he said
“Oh, Harry do you think so little of me that I would go and tattle on you? You are my best friend”, she said rolling her eyes.
“ No… It is not like that I am going to show you a dragon “, he said
Luna was quiet for some time then said, “You are surely joking “
“No Norberta she is a Norwegian ridgeback Hagrid bought her as an egg, and we hatched her I cared for her as a child, and she bonded with me, Would you like to see it, I can promise that she won’t harm you or anyone. “, he said
Luna’s mouth hung open then she closed it and squealed
“yesyesyesyes"
He smiled at her excitement and said, “ She lives quite deep into the forest perhaps we can meet centaurs on the way and cross paths with unicorns. Perhaps this time silver would allow you to ride her. “
“Oh, you see will see Harry that I will be able to ride her first before you are able to ride Sneakfoot.”, she said
“We will see “, he said in challenging tone
“Oh, we will “, Luna said batting her eye at him
He turned red
“Oh, come on Harry what are you looking for “, she said dragging him from the spot where moments ago he stood frozen.
He always froze like a statue when Luna smiled at him or batted her eyes at him, for a moment he felt as if something that was missing in his life was no longer missing. But once he was pulled out of the bliss, he could never make any sense out of that ethereal-like feeling.
He led her through the forest and all the way to the centaur colony where they met Bane and the rest of the village, it felt nice when they were welcomed and after introducing Luna to the centaurs and exchanging a few words with them they left the village.
They were now quite deep into the forbidden forest when Luna tugged his robes signaling for him to stop.
“Yes Luna “, he asked
“Have you explored this part of the forest thoroughly “, she asked
“No, I have crossed these parts but never paid much attention to the surroundings”, he answered
“Well, you would be surprised but if look closely at those trees “she said pointing to a tree “I think there is a colony of bow truckle out there.
“We will explore it later on right now We should move, otherwise we won’t be able to enjoy our time with Norberta. “, he replied
“Oh ok, anyways we wouldn’t be able to approach them without woodlice.”, she said
He agreed and they continued on their journey inside the forest.
Soon enough the forest cleared into an opening which then as they moved onwards turned into a valley once again clouded into a thick forest.
After a little descent into the valley and entered the only cave which opened into a side of the valley.
Both he and Luna walked inside. He could feel Norberta was inside the cave and was perhaps sleeping.
“Do not panic on seeing her and remain Quiet Luna “, he whispered
She nodded
They moved deeper into the cave and soon both of them could see a resting figure of Norberta which rose on seeing him.
He walked towards Norberta who flapped her wings excitedly on seeing him and bent down to her nose tickled like he always did.
He started tickling her nose and she spat a mouthful of fire though it missed him clearly but one needed to be very careful while meeting a dragon even the one with whom you have a bond.
He had hence but a charm on himself and Luna which prevented them from being burnt alive.
It was a very advanced version of fire-freezing charm.
Once Norberta had calmed from her exited demeanour he led her out of the cave while introducing her to Luna to whom she took an immediate liking.
“She likes you Luna “, he said while he scratched the neck of Norberta.
“Can I touch her Harry “, she asked a little afraid and excited to boot
“Yes, scratch her nose and ears like this “, he guided her showing the spots where Norberta loved to be scratched
Soon enough Norberta was purring
“Would you like to fly on a dragon”, he asked her
“Can we do that?? “, she asked literally jumping from excitement
“Yep”, he said and mounted Norberta who already had bent her back for them to mount seeing his mood.
Then Luna hopped onto the back of Norberta and wrapped her arms around his waist he stilled and stiffened then relaxed.
“Let’s fly Norberta “, he said to the dragon bending to speak in its ear. The dragon jumped into the air flapping its wings.
“Hold on tightly Luna “, he said
She squeezed him, and he squirmed but soon enough both of them were laughing in pure Joy of flying on a dragon, after what seemed like hours Norberta landed back to her cave.
“Can’t we fly more “, Luna asked
“No but we can come again next Sunday or Saturday “, he said
She pressed her lips together then kissed the jaw of lady dragon, and they said their farewell to Norberta.