Young and Old, Back and Bold

Chapter 30

He thought he had some time before Voldemort's name popped up, but it wasn't long until he heard about what happened in the forest the night of the Golden Trio's detention. Harry told him all that had happened with the unicorns and the figure, had told him how he regained his cloak.

Nico lost the safe feelings he felt in Hogwarts. He lost the innocent state he had been in. That fear, that constant state of anxiety. Just as Hecate said, Voldemort was back. And now Harry knew.

And it was in this state that he had to take exams. He passed, thank the gods, though he still wasn't sure how. The heat had soaked into him well before the exams had finished.

Afterward, Nico joined Ron and the others outside. They sat under a tree, the shadows soaking into Nico's skin and refueling his energy.

"No more studying," Ron said happily. "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 didn't stop rubbing his forehead. "I wish I knew what this means! My scar keeps hurting - it's happened before, but never as often as this."

Nico picked his head up to gaze at Harry. Around him, the feeling of death had grown stronger. It constantly twisted at Nico's stomach. "You shouldn't ignore it."

Ron and Hermione sent him reluctant looks. "It's probably nothing," Ron yawned. "Don't egg him on." He frowned when Harry jumped to his feet. "Where're you going?"

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

"Why?" Hermione asked as they followed him off.

"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?"

Nico's stomach dropped though he didn't stop following.

They found Hagrid sitting outside his hut. The running didn't stop the heat boiling over the wizards.

"Hullo." Hagrid smiled. "Finished your exams? Got time for a drink?"

"Yes, please," said Ron, but Harry cut him off.

"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," said Hagrid casually, "he wouldn't take his cloak off."

Nico shared a serious look with Harry.

"It's not that unusual, you get a lot of funny folk in the Hog's Head -that's the pub down in the village. Might a been a dragon dealer, mightn't 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?"

"Might have come up," Hagrid replied. "Yeah... he asked what I did, and I told him I was gamekeeper here... He asked a bit about the sorta creatures I took after... so I told him... and I said what I'd always really wanted was a dragon... and then... I can't remember too well, 'cause he kept buying me drinks... Let's see... yeah, then he said he had the dragon egg and we could play cards for it if I wanted... but he had to be sure I could handle it, he didn't want it to go to any old home... So I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy..."

"Did he seem interested in the demon dog?" Nico asked, his voice monotone.

"Well - yeah - how many three-headed dogs do you meet, even around Hogwarts? So I told him, Fluffy's a piece of cake if you know how to calm him down, just play him a bit of music and he'll go straight off to sleep -" His eyes widened. "I shouldn't have told you that! Forget I said it! Hey -where're you going?"