That one dream DRARRY

Chapter 8

"Oh come on Draco! Hagrid would like you to come." Harry said to a grumbling Draco, on their way to Hagrid's hut.

"You think so?! Cause I don't, he didn't like me before so he probably doesn't like me now!"

"Hagrid likes everyone!"

"Yeah right." Draco rolled his eyes.

"Are you scared, Draco?" Harry asked teasingly.

"Scared Potter! Of course not!"

"Hey! Don't 'Pottah' me!"

"You deserved it!"

"Seriously, are you guys going to argue right now, just as Ron finally stopped arguing with Malfoy?" Hermione asked in frustration.

"We're not arguing!" Harry and Draco said at the same time. "We're just teasing!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and knocked on Hagrid's door. "Good morning Hagrid." She said kindly as Hagrid opened the door.

"Good morning Hermione, aah and Ron and Harry. And Malfoy? Oh right, the punishment. Come on in, I was just about to make tea."

"See, I told you he wouldn't mind." Harry said to Draco.

They sat down and Hagrid made tea.

He poured a cup of tea for everyone. "Look what I found." Hagrid picked up some sort of small cage containing a tiny black creature that looked like the intersection of a platypus and a mole.

"What is that?" Ron asked.

"It's a niffler." Hermione replied. "Where did you get that niffler?"

"I found him on the edge of the forest."

"What is a niffler doing in the Forbidden Forest?" Hermione asked.

"I have no idea," Hagrid replied as he took the niffler out of the cage. "This is no place for nifflers, maybe he was lost or something."

The niffler sat looking around anxiously.

"What are you going to do with it?" Harry asked.

"A friend of mine works a lot with creatures like nifflers, maybe I can give it to him."

The niffler, no longer afraid, crept curiously in the direction of Draco.

"What is he doing?" Draco asked frightened.

"Don't worry, he's just curious, nifflers aren't dangerous."

"That may be, but I don't like it." Draco said uncomfortably.

"He won't do anything." Harry said.

"Yes, nifflers don't do anything you can even pet them, try if you want." Hagrid said.

Harry gently reached out and stroked the niffler.

"You see, they don't do anything." Hagrid said.

Draco reached out his hand and carefully to stroke the niffler but suddenly the niffler reached for his hand. Draco moved over to Harry and quickly took his hand. "Why the bloody hell did that thing do that!?" He asked anxiously.

Hermione and Ron looked at him strangely.

Draco let go of Harry's hand and moved away from him again. He turned a little red.

"I have no idea, normally they never do unless... oh, I get it, he didn't reach for your hand but for your ring." Hagrid said.

"Why does that want my ring?"

"Nifflers are attracted to shiny things." Hermione replied.

"Indeed, that's why he did that." Hagrid said.

"I don't like him, he can't have my ring!" Draco said anxiously.

"Scared?" Harry asked with a smirk.

"No, I just don't like that he wants to grab my stuff!"

Harry chuckled. "Then pet him without your ring on."

"I'm not going to take my ring off! What if I lose it!?"

"Give it to me then, I'll keep it until the niffler is back in the cage."

"Fine, but if you lose it, I'm going to kill you." Draco took off his ring and handed it to Harry.

"I won't, I'll put it on my finger so I can't lose it."

"Okay."

Harry put on Draco's ring. "Now try to pet him."

"Okay..." Draco gently reached out in the direction of the niffler.

The niffler moved a little closer, making Draco flinch.

"It's okay, he just wants to be petted." Harry said reassuringly. "Look," He stroked the niffler who immediately leaned in to the touch. "Just try."

Draco gently reached out to the niffler and petted him.

The niffler leaned in to his touch and made a kind of purring noise.

"You see, he just wanted to be petted."

Draco smiled.

Harry looked at him fondly.

Hermione smiled at Harry. She now had the evidence for what she thought before. The kind and patient way that Harry treats Draco, it all makes sense.

"He's actually quite cute." Draco said.

"Yes, he is." Harry said.

"Can I hold him?" Draco asked Hagrid.

"Of course." Hagrid answered.

Draco took the niffler from the table and held it gently. He patted him. "He's so soft." He cooed.

"Yes, he is." Harry leaned over to Draco and stroked the niffler.

It was quiet for a while.

Suddenly, the niffler sat up on Draco's hand. He fumbled his paw in his pouch.

"What is he doing?" Draco asked curiously.

The niffler took a golden button from his pouch and held it out to Draco.

"He wants to give you something." Hagrid said.

Draco reached out his other hand and the niffler handed him the button. "Thank you." Draco smiled and petted the niffler.

"He really likes you, Draco. Nifflers don't just give their stuff to wizards and other creatures." Hagrid said.

"Really? Aww, I like you too little guy." Draco said.

Harry smiled at him fondly with his cheeks flushed.

"What is happening to him?" Ron whispered in Hermione's ear, confused about Harry's affectionate state.

"Leave him, Ron." Hermione answered quietly. She was happy to see Harry happy. She knows he is having a hard time at home. The Dursleys are no easy people to get along with. And even though he doesn't see them during the school year, it affects him.

"Can I give him a name?" Draco asked Hagrid.

"Sure," Hagrid replied.

"What are we going to call you little guy?" Draco said to the niffler who looked at him sweetly. "I think I'm going to call you Button."

"Button, that's a cute name." Hagrid said.

"Yes, I agree." Hermione said.

"It's symbolic because he gave me a button, you know. I thought it would suit him." Draco said, blushing slightly.

"Yes, it suits him indeed." Hagrid said.

"What do you think Harry?" Draco looked at Harry.

"I love it." Harry answered.

Draco smiled.