The Bravest Snake

CHAPTER 19

It was a truth they all knew, a bitter pill they all had to swallow - it was too late to make a new plan. They'd just have to risk it and hope they evaded Pansy. If not... well, Draco didn't want to think about it. 

Either way, they still had to let Hagrid know about their's and Charlie's plan to get rid of Norbert. When they informed him, his small black eyes filled with tears, or maybe because Norbert bit hi on the leg. Draco couldn't help feeling bad for him. Hagrid seemed the type to get attached to pets quickly, like Draco himself. He too would have a hard time letting his cat, Lyla, go. After the few months they'd shared, he felt like they'd grown a bond even stronger than, say, maybe even his father. 

Saturday night was dark and cloudy, and Draco tried his best to hurry Harry and Hermione along to Hagrid's hut. No time to waste. In spite of himself, he wished that Ron and his adventurous personality were here instead of in the Hospital Wing. It was hard being the only one with a lot of bravery to spare. Not to say Harry and Hermione weren't brave, but he and Ron outmatched them.

Hagrid had packed Norbert in a large crate upon their arrival. It looked super heavy to carry. Is this a punishment or something? Draco thought sourly. ''He's got lots o' rats and some brandy fer the journey,'' said Hagrid in a shaky, muffled voice. ''An' I've packed his teddy bear in case he gets lonely.

From the crate came a sound as though the teddy was being dismembered. Draco winced.

''Bye - bye, Norbert!'' Hagrid called as Harry covered the crate and themselves with the invisibility cloak. ''Mommy will never forget you!'

Draco couldn't suppress his smile as they lugged the crate up to the tower. It was slow going, even with the shortcuts he and Hermione had found while making their map. Ugh, I should've brought the map, Draco thought tiredly. I'm pretty sure I missed a few secret passageways that could help. 

''Nearly there!'' Hermione panted as they reached the corridor nearest to the tower. She's doing an excellent job being lookout, steering us away from any problematic places. Draco was about to say so when a sudden movement made him almost drop the crate on his foot. That would've really hurt.

 A lamp flared, and the three tried to shrink in the shadows before they realized they were invisible. Squinting, Draco could just make out the details of the two people ten feet away. It was Professor McGonagall in a tartan bathrobe and hair net. She had Pansy Parkinson by the ear, the latter rolling her eyes like this was the most annoying thing in the world.

''Detention!'' McGonagall shouted. ''And twenty points from Slytherin! Wandering around in the middle of the night, how dare you - ''

Pansy scoffed haughtily, a snobby sound that kind of made Draco want to wring her neck a little bit. ''You don't understand, Professor. Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter are coming with a dragon - and Hermione Granger too! All your favorite students!''

''What utter rubbish! How dare you tell such lies! Come on - I shall see Professor Snape about you, Parkinson!''

''Come on now,'' Hermione breathed, poking Draco and Harry in the sides. They quickly moved away and climbed up the spiral staircase to the top of the tower. It seemed so easy with the lightness in Draco stomach. The petty part of him was happy to see Pansy get in trouble, even though the kind part of him wasn't.

Finally, finally, they reached the top of the tower. The cold night air hit Draco like a blast of cool air from a fan on a hot day. It chilled his bones, giving him a sense of relief. They all threw off the cloak, and Hermione did a little dance. ''Parkinson's got detention! I could sing!''

''Don't,'' Harry advised her. They all chuckled as they waited. Norbert seemed restless in his crate, he was screeching and thrashing about. Draco wished he could do something to calm the dragon, but they just had to stay put and hope nobody had the urge to go to their tower.

About ten minutes later, four broomsticks appeared, bringing Charlie and his friends. They were very nice, showing them they harness they made and rigged up to suspend Norbert between them. Draco helped them buckle him in securely and felt himself get a little bit sad at Norbert's departure. He'd never been the friendliest, but he certainly livened things up at Hagrid's hut, and Draco was sure that Harry and Hermione would say the same. Ron, well, he wasn't sure about Ron.

 At last, Norbert was going... going... gone. Draco felt a weight lift from his shoulders at the prospect of not having to worry about Norbert. Hogwarts really wasn't  a suitable place for him, and now Norbert was flying to a better life. Draco could also feel the weight lift from Harry, Hermione, and Ron, since they did their fair share of fretting. Nobody wanted the dragon to be in their thoughts and worries any more than it had to.

Draco felt high in the air as they all slipped back down the spiral staircase. Norbert out of his mind and Pansy in detention where she deserved to be. Finally, Draco was able to evade her and get a step ahead. Revenge felt good. He should try doing it more often.

What in the world could spoil his happiness?

The answer to that was lying in wait at the foot of the stairs. As they stepped into the corridor without a care in the world, Filch's face loomed suddenly out of the darkness. Draco could feel his heart stop.

''Well, well, well,'' he whispered smugly, like he'd been waiting for this moment, ''we are in trouble.''

Draco heard Harry gasp, realizing at once their fatal mistake. They'd left the invisibility cloak on top of the tower. How could we?

As Filch led them down to Professor McGonagall's and Snape's studies, Draco desperately tried to think of some excuses, alibis, or any cover - up story, but his mind was moving too fast. Beside him, Hermione was trembling, probably thinking up plans of her own. He could feel her take his hand, but he didn't shy away from the contact like he might have a few months ago. He was clearly in a state of crisis.

Through the chaos of his mind, one thought stood out from the rest, a loud plea. Please, please Professor McGonagall, please don't let my father hear about this.