Eternal Despair (Harry Potter/OC)

𝟙𝟘: Cerberus

Maybe it was because Ron and Hermione hadn't seen what Enzo and Harry had seen in the forest, but they didn't seem as worried about the Stone.

The idea of Voldemort certainly scared them, but they were so busy with their studies that they didn't have much time to fret about what Snape or anyone else might be up to.

The things Firenze had told Harry and Enzo about their dire futures had begun to haunt Enzo, who spent hours trying to decipher the meaning. I mean, he could understand why Voldemort would want something from The Boy Who Lived, but why him?

Their very last exam was History of Magic. An hour spent answering questions about batty old wizards who'd invented self-stirring cauldrons, and they'd be free-a whole wonderful week of freedom until their exam results came out.

When the ghost of Professor Binns finally told them to put down their quills and roll up their parchment, no one could help but cheer.

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

"I'm pretty sure that's a few years ahead from now," said Enzo.

"Eugh, don't remind me," Ron groaned.

Hermione always liked to go through their exam papers afterward, but Ron said this made him feel ill. So they wandered down to the lake and flopped under a tree.

The Weasley twins and Lee Jordan were tickling the tentacles of a giant squid, which was basking in the warm shallows.

"No more studying," Ron sighed happily, stretching out on the grass.

"You could look more cheerful, Harry," he added. "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.

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

"You got that scar after Voldemort tried attacking you, right? It has to be connected to him," Enzo said, leaning back against the tree.

Ron couldn't get worked up by the mention of Voldemort; it was too hot. "You two have to 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."

"I guess," Enzo sighed as Harry nodded, but couldn't shake off a lurking feeling that there was something he'd forgotten to do, something important.

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

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

"We just sat down, though," Enzo groaned, before complying when he realized that Harry had already left.

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

"Don't you think it's a bit odd," said Harry, 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?"