MAGIC AND MYSTERY

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Part 11

The screen changed to show Halley, Hermione, Maliana, Harry, and Ron leaving their History of Magic Exam.

"That was far easier than I thought it would be," Hermione said, as they joined the crowds flocking out into the sunny  grounds. "I needn't have learnt about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager."

Hermione always liked to go through their exam papers afterwards, but Ron said this made him feel ill, so they wandered down to the lake and flopped under a tree. The twins and Lee were tickling the tentacles of a giant squid, which was basking in the warm shallows. 

"No more revision," Ron sighed happily, stretching out on the grass. "You could look more cheerful, Harry, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've done, there's no need to worry yet."

Harry was rubbing his forehead. "I wish I knew what this means!" he burst out angrily. "My scar keeps hurting – it's happened before, but never as often as this."

"Go to Madam Pomfrey," Hermione suggested.

"And say what - 'Oh Madam Pomfrey, my death scar is hurting!'" Maliana scoffed.

"I'm not ill," Harry said. "I think it's a warning . . . it means danger's coming . . ."

Ron couldn't get worked up, it was too hot. "Harry, relax, Hermione's right, the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around. Anyway, we've never had any proof Snape found out how to get past Fluffy. He nearly had his leg ripped off once, he's not going to try it again in a hurry. And Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down."

"Hagrid told them about the Philosopher's Stone," Dean pointed out.

Harry nodded, but he couldn't shake off a lurking feeling that there was something he'd forgotten to do, something important.

When Harry explained his lurking feeling that there was something important he'd forgotten to do, Hermione was no help. 

"That's just the exams. I woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'd done that one."

Harry suddenly jumped to his feet. "Where're you going?" Ron said sleepily.

"I've just thought of something," Harry said. He had gone white. "We've got to go and see Hagrid, now."

"Why?" Halley panted, hurrying to keep up.

"Don't you think it's a bit odd," Harry said, scrambling up the grassy slope, "that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket? How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see it before?"

Sherlock gasped at this. "What is it?" Mycroft asked, but he didn't answer.

"What are you on about?" Ron said, but Harry, sprinting across the grounds towards the Forest, didn't answer.

Hermione had already figured it out. "Oh my god! Norbert!"

Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his house; his trousers and sleeves were rolled up and he was shelling peas into a large bowl.

"Hullo," he said, smiling. "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"

"Yes, please," Ron said, but Hermione cut across him.