Parseltongue Heiress

Chapter 16

Over the next few weeks, things with the dragon progressed quickly. Ron got bit on the hand after it hatched, and I got bit on the leg. We ended up spending our time in the hospital wing. We all decided it was best if Norbert went to live with Charlie, Ron's brother, in Romania, at the Dragon Sanctuary. So, one night, while we were still laid up, Harry and Hermione took him up to the Astronomy Tower in the dark, using the Cloak as cover. Malfoy was caught waiting at the bottom of the stairs, losing 20 House points, and sentenced to detention. They made it to the top and made the transfer, but forgot the cloak on the way back, and ended up getting caught. Neville got caught trying to warn them, and they lost 50 points each, and got detention as well.

They served their detentions with Hagrid in the forbidden forest, trying to find an injured unicorn. They got to meet centaurs, which made me jealous. They ended up finding the unicorn, dead, and something was drinking its blood. Apparently, the blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch from death, but a terrible price comes with slaying something pure and defenseless to save yourself. From the moment the blood touches your lips you will have a cursed, half-life. Only the most desperate person would even dare to do it. Harry discovered it was Voldemort drinking the blood of the unicorn, after he was saved from him by a centaur named Firenze.

After Harry and Hermione explained this to me and Ron, Harry theorized that Voldemort would come and finish him off the second he got ahold of the Elixir of Life. Hermione had some words of comfort for him, however, and they comforted me as well. "Everyone says Dumbledore's the only one You-Know-Who was ever afraid of. With Dumbledore around, you're safe. With Dumbledore around, you can't be touched. You either Maia. You're both safe here, in Hogwarts, as long as Dumbledore is around."

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Exams came upon us faster than we expected. It was unbearably hot, especially in the rooms where we took our written finals. We were given new, enchanted quills that had Anti-Cheating charms on them. Then there were the practical exams. Flitwick had us make pineapples tap-dance, and Aunt Minnie had us turn mice into snuffboxes. For potions, we brewed Forgetfulness potions, which ironically, everyone had a hard time remembering. The last exam was History of Magic, where we were driven crazy answering questions about who's invented self-stirring cauldrons, and then we were free.

"That was far easier than I thought it would be," Hermione confided to me, with a sigh of relief. "I needn't have learned about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager." I just laughed and agreed with her as we joined the crowds flocking out onto the sunny grounds.

We were lounging on the grass under a tree, when Harry started trying to figure out why his scar kept hurting. He jumped to his feet suddenly. "I've just thought of something." He had turned as white as a ghost. "We've got to go and see Hagrid, now."

"Why?" Hermione and I both questioned, grinning at each other when we spoke in tandem.

"Don't you think it's a bit odd," Harry panted, scrambling up the slope, "that what Hagrid wants more than anything 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 they're illegal? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't we see it before?"

Ron was still confused, even though I had figured it out, and I was sure Hermione had as well.

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 greeted cheerily. "Finished yer exams? Got time fer a drink?"

"No, we're in a hurry. Hagrid, I've got to ask you something. You know that night you won Norbert? What did the stranger you were playing cards with look like?"

"Dunno," Hagrid was casual, "he wouldn' take his cloak off." He saw the three of them look stunned and raised his eyebrows. "It's not that unusual, yeh get a lot o' funny folk in the Hog's Head- that's the pub down in the village. Mighta bin a dragon dealer, mightn' he? I never saw his face, he kept his hood up."

Harry sank down to the ground. "What did you talk to him about, Hagrid? Did you mention Hogwarts at all?"

"Mighta come up," said Hagrid, frowning as he tried to remember. "I told him I was the groundskeeper. He said he 'ad a dragon egg, and he'd play me fer it. He just wanted ter make sure I coul' handle it. I tol' him, after Fluffy, a dragon woul' be easy."

I could tell where this was headed, so I leaned forward. "And was he interested in Fluffy?"

"Well, yeah, o' course. How many three-headed dogs d'yeh meet, even in the trade. But I told 'im, the trick ter any beast is ter know how ter calm it. Fluffy, fer example, just play 'im a bit o' music and he'll fall right ter sleep. I shouldn' have told yeh that!" He looked horrified.

Harry stood, looking between us. I tried not to look annoyed. "You really shouldn't have told anyone that."

We rushed to the castle, trying to get to Dumbledore as fast as we can. We stood in the entrance hall, trying to figure out where Dumbledore's office was. Right as I was about to speak up, seeing as I had some inklings, my aunt showed up.

"What are you three doing inside?" Professor McGonagall was carrying a large pile of books.

"We need to see the Headmaster." Hermione spoke up.

Aunt Minnie looked suspicious. "Professor Dumbledore left ten minutes ago. He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London at once."

"He's gone?" Harry was frantic. "Now?"

"Professor Dumbledore has many things that demand his time. Now, may I ask what this is all about?" She fixed us with her stare, causing the boys to shy away. I was used to it, however, and stood my ground, and Hermione was just brave in general.

"It's about the Philosopher's Stone, Professor. We know someone is trying to steal it!" She looked at my aunt dead in the eye while saying this.

McGonagall's books tumbled out of her arms as she spluttered. "How do you even know about that? Never mind that, rest assured, no one can possibly steal it."

I just shook my head, deciding to keep my mouth shut. What? She is my legal guardian. I'd rather not be grounded, thanks. She walked off, and once she was out of sight, Harry turned to us.

"It's tonight. Snape's going after the Stone tonight. I bet he sent that note, and the Ministry will be real surprised when the headmaster shows up." Hermione gasped right after he finished talking, causing Harry and Ron to whirl around. Snape was standing there.

"Good afternoon. What are you doing inside on a day like this?" His voice was smooth.

"We were-" Harry had a panicked look on his face, but before I could interject to save him from embarrassment, Snape cut him off.

"You should be more careful. Hanging around like this, people might think you're up to something." My friends bristled, then we turned to go outside, but he called us back. "Maia, I need to speak with you. Come to my office with me, if you would." Harry lingered.

"Go on guys, I'll catch up." I knew they wereplanning to go through the trapdoor to save the stone, and I figured I'd gowith them. But first, I knew we needed at least one professor on our side.