Troublesome Trio
Neville had turned out to be a dead end. He didn’t know much just that they kept sneaking out, and fighting with the obnoxious Slytherin Draco Malfoy. But he did know whatever they were doing had something to do with the grounds keeper Hagrid and that they frequented his hut. So between studying Lirum would hunt down the troublesome trio.
Sneaking out to Hagrid’s shack in the far corner of Hogwarts grounds they found the trio talking to the half giant.
Hagrid frowned at the first years and said.
"0' course I cant, 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."
So the staff know what’s going on. Lirum thought hiding near the tree line.
"Oh, come on, Hagrid, you might not want to tell us, but you do know, you know everything that goes on round 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, really." Hermione went on. "We wondered who Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him, apart from you." Hagrid's chest swelled at these last words. Harry and Ron beamed at Hermione, as they moved inside.
“Oh that girl is good when she wants to be, a dangerous one, she is.” Lirum thought trying to get a bit closer to hear them better. Peaking through a small window Lirum could still hear them.
“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 --" he ticked them off on his fingers, "Professor Quirrell -- an' Dumbledore himself did somethin', o' course. Hang on, I've forgotten someone. Oh yeah, Professor Snape."
"Snape?" The trio said together
"Yeah -- yer not still on abou' that, are yeh? Look, Snape helped protect the Stone, he's not about ter steal it."
Lirum froze hearing this. Those keys professor Flitwick had been charming must have been for this. The three Gryffindors shared a look seemingly thinking the same thing. If Snape 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. Maybe they where right after all.
"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."
"Can't, Harry, sorry," said Hagrid. Harry noticed him glance at the fire. Harry looked at it, too. Lirum followed their gaze to see what appeared to be a dragon’s egg. No it couldn’t be dragons are illegal to keep in the uk.
"Hagrid -- what's that?" Harry asked.
In the very heart of the fire, underneath the kettle, was a huge, black egg. They’d only ever seen them in books before that moment, truly it had to be a dragons 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 Hermione.
"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 didn't, Lirum agreed honestly this was insane a dragon on Hogwarts grounds, around children. You’d have to be mental to think that was alright.
But what could Lirum do go to Percy. Tell him they’d been stalking his little brother and friends. And why because they heard some half cooked conspiracy theory about Hogwarts teachers. When they should have been studying for their exams. No that would be even more trouble. Percy was already stressed they could handle this and make sure nothing and make sure nothing happens.
Suddenly they heard foot steps. Panicking they ducked hoping not to be seen. When suddenly they looked and saw that malfoy prat standing not to far away arms crossed glaring at the trio as he approached like normal. Thankful for the first time ever to see the annoying blood purist’s face.
All at once they heard a scraping noise from inside and the egg split open. The baby dragon flopped onto the table. It wasn't exactly pretty. Its spiny wings were huge compared to its skinny jet black body, it had a long snout with wide nostrils, the stubs of horns and bulging, orange eyes.
It sneezed. A couple of sparks flew out of its snout, Scaring Lirum. The hut was made of wood the whole thing is wood. He’s likely to burn the whole forest down if he gets sick.
"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 leapt to his feet and ran to the window.
"What's the matter?" Hagrid asked as Lirum dropped to the ground Hoping they wouldn’t be seen.
"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 it. Malfoy had seen the dragon.
Lirum decided that was enough snooping for now. They would be caught no where near the dragon or the three troublesome first years. They went back to their routine studies with Percy. He acted as if nothing had ever happened and down right refused to touch the subject of palmistry. He seemed to be looking worn again when they came to meet for their studies in the library.
“Percy are you alright?” Lirum asked he looked pale and worried. That worried Lirum more than anything.
“Ron is in the hospital wing. He’s been bitten by something. His whole arm just about, is green, and he won’t tell me what’s happened.” Percy said resting his head against his hand leaning forward on the table.
“Would you like to go check on him again?” Lirum asked. They didn’t like seeing him like this.
“What good would it do? You need me here to study with, and even if I go he won’t talk to me. I’m always trying to help, but none of them ever listen to me.” Percy said, taking off his glasses.
“I know it doesn’t help but they're eleven-twelve max. And he’s as stubborn a Weasley as the rest of you. By the looks of it despite how outwardly loving your family seems to be, you are all somehow emotionally stunted.” Lirum said taking Percy’s hands in theirs.
“That is ridiculous! We are not emotionally stunted!”
“Oh yeah then why don’t you take better care of yourself, tell your brother how you feel. Talk to your siblings about the fact you want to help them in a way where you don’t sound like a know it all twit.” Lirum finished on a playful note hoping he wouldn’t shut down from being mildly insulted because they needed to get their point across. But only received a scoff in reply.
“I could go with you there's nothing really I’m struggling with at the moment it seems to be you struggling. Just checking in on him, making sure he’s ok might make you feel better.” Lirum said grabbing his arm and pulling him up from the library table.
“We really don’t need to. We should study! Finals are weeks away.” Percy said not really trying to stop them as Lirum drug him out of the library.
“Their about 8 weeks away now meaning 2 whole months. we have time who knows how long your brother will be in the hospital wing, or how long you’ll stress about it. What was it you said before ‘at this point studying will only tire you out.’ It’s your turn now we’re going.” Lirum said.
“That’s not fair, this is different.” Percy protested but Lirum wouldn’t have it.
“You need to take better care of yourself! That’s not just physically it’s emotionally and mentally. You stress yourself out to the point you look like you’ll take ill. If you’re so sure your not emotionally constipated you can have a conversation with your brother. I’ll be right there if you need help.” Lirum said not giving him any leeway to argue.
They drug him by the arm of his robes all the way to the hospital wing. Stopping in front of the door they turned to face Percy. Looking at him they straightened out his robes and fluffed his hair a little so he looked as prim and propped as usual. A flush spread across his pale freckled face as his hands went to stop theirs.
“What are you doing?” Percy snapped not expecting the sudden contact.
“Making sure you look like you before we go inside.”
“I always look like me, what kind of nonsense-what has gotten into you?” Percy said giving Lirum a bizarre look of surprise.
“I’m trying to help you, trust me, Please?” Lirum said before pulling the door open to see Ron sitting on the bed hand wrapped looking drenched in sweat.
“Hey Ron, heard you got bit, you doing alright?” Lirum said trying to act more relaxed. Imitating Tonks when they first met.
“I’m alright…what are you two doing here?” Ron asked, giving an odd look to his brother and his friend.
“I-we know you said that you were fine, and you didn’t want to talk to me about it. But we still wanted to check on you.” Percy said awkwardly.
“What your brother means to say is he’s worried about you.” Lirum corrected.
“I-though what you said is correct I think I can talk to my own brother, and he understand me. He knows I care for him.” Percy started.
“Alright then tell him, not me.” Lirum gestured to the boy and spoke . “Because he seems pretty well, confused.”
“I appreciate you’re willingness to help, but could you give us some space. This is a family matter.” Percy said.
Percy took off his glasses and sat down in the chair beside the hospital bed. He took a deep breath looking back at Lirum watching as they took a few steps back knocking into one of the tables causing a book to fall and papers that where inside scattered on the floor. He sighed again, before turning back to his brother, and starting their heart to heart. As Lirum picked up the papers, and put them back into the book they found a letter that had fallen out.
As they went to put it back into the book they notice one word ‘dragon’ they took in a long inhale they had tried to forget the day at Hagrid’s hut. That had to be the how and what that attacked Ron. Lirum knew they had to read it, but also desperately didn’t want to. It was an invasion of privacy, amongst other things, but these kids where going to get themselves killed without intervention. Was it time to tell Percy? They would have to read it first. And so they did, the letter read.
Dear Ron,
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. 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.
Charlie? like their older brother Charlie? the second oldest Weasley boy Charlie? Friend of Tonks, Charlie? This can’t be right! They could ask Percy. He would know wouldn’t he? If this where truly Charlie’s words, his handwriting.
But how could they? They looked back at the pair, who where now chatting much freer. Show him the letter would ruin this moment of the boys actually talking. Ruin a moment where Percy was being emotionally vulnerable trying to tell his brother he cares and wants to help him.
So they wouldn’t. the astronomy tower was the tallest to Lirum’s knowledge. The meeting would have to be there at midnight. where Lirum would put an end to this trouble. This dragon mess, them chasing down this stone, everything, else three first years turn up dead.