One Stone Changes So Many Lives - Book 3/10

Chapter 24 - Charlie's Letter

Sabrina's POV

As April continued on, so did the process of cooking Hagrid's dragon egg. It was a long month, visiting Hagrid's hut every day. I had to dodge Connor throughout. The one time he caught me heading down there – Let's just say I had to apologise to Hagrid for being late.

But as April finally came to it's last few days, the dragon egg hatched. Hagrid sent me a letter, telling me it's name - Norbert. Apparently Harry, Ron and Hermione got to watch it hatch. Ron had told Hagrid, it's breed was a Norwegian Ridgeback.

I got to visit Norbert on the 2nd May. He almost set Hagrid's hut alight, and attempted to bite my hand. Luckily, I managed to change into a bird and fly up to the top of the hut, avoiding him. He eventually ignored the sight of me, and went to go and sit in the fire again.

Hagrid asked me to babysit him when he had work – Unfortunately I couldn't refuse Hagrid. He has looked after me a number of times throughout the years, so how could I?

Whenever I was dragon sitting over the next few weeks, I just sat at Hagrid's large table doing revision, and glancing at Norbert, sitting happily in the fire. It was a silent agreement between us, and it worked - I ignored him and he ignored me. I fed him his supper, and he didn't blow fire or bite me – So it worked.

I went for an early walk on Wednesday morning up to the Owlery. I looked around and saw Hedwig, Harry's owl, sleeping peacefully on her perch. I put a few owl treats in her dish, before walking up the steps to the top level.

When I reached the top, I looked out of the window, and watched the sun slowly rise. I decided to draw the view, in my sketchbook. I continued to draw, until the sun was just a few metres into the sky. It was at that moment that a large black owl flew in threw the window, dropping a letter at my feet. The letter was for me. I opened it up and began to read.

Dear Sabrina,

I hate to ask you this. But I need to. My brother and his 1st year friends are going to deliver a baby dragon, to the Astronomy tower next Saturday at Midnight.

Again I hate to ask you, but I don't think they will be able to take care of this without help. A bunch of first years transporting an illegal dragon without getting caught. Not likely to succeed. If they are caught in hand with the dragon, then the Ministry will have to get involved. Everyone would be under investigation. My colleagues collecting the dragon, the 1st years and most of all, Hagrid.

Please Sabrina. I ask you to watch over them and ensure that nothing goes wrong. I know you have a few tricks up your sleeves.

Please reply. All the best, Charlie.

As I re-read the letter, I felt my mouth drop open. That means that Hagrid's gonna lose Norbert to Delebus – Poor Hagrid.

Mind you it's for the best - A fire breathing dragon wouldn't have lasted too long in a small wooden hut.

So I guess I know what I'm doing next Saturday night – Looking after my idiot cousin, and his friends transporting an illegal dragon! Just you're ordinary Saturday night!

                                                                                            *

I woke up early on Sunday morning, with an unusual amount of energy. I don't know why, but I felt like going for a run through the forest – It just felt.....right.

I got up, showered and dressed, before I started jogging through the castle, towards the stone circle, down the hill and into the forest. As I passed trees, bushes, and shrubs, I heard the distant calls of animals waking up to the rising sun. Each of them calling to their young, telling them they'll be back with breakfast soon – When did I learn how to understand animal sounds? Oh yeah, when I started changing into a number of different animals last year!

I ran into a clearing, and stopped to catch my breath. As I stood back up I noticed a pure white Unicorn running past me - It was spectacular! A brilliant white, with a glowing affect to her. She ran straight past me, only slightly glancing in my direction. After taking a deep breath, inhaling the sight of her, I ran on in a different direction.

After a few moments, I suddenly felt like I was being watched. I came to a stop, and turned round and round. There was no sign of anyone. Then I spotted something white on the floor. I took a few slow steps towards it, and I catch my breath in my throat – It was her. It was the Unicorn.

I ran forwards, and saw the bleeding wound on her neck. I placed one hand of the wound, trying to stop the bleeding, but it was no use. She just continued to bleed. I placed two fingers, under the bend of her neck, as her pulse slowed – Then it stopped.

I sat there, on my knees, and looked up at the sky turning a light blue. I took off my hoody and placed it over the her head, before running off in the direction of Hagrid's hut.

I banged on the door loudly, hearing the angry grunts of both, Hagrid and Fang, coming from inside.

"HAGRID! COME ON! THIS IS IMPORTANT!" I bellowed at the top of my voice. His door burst open, just as he was pulling on his waistcoat.

"Wha' is it Sabrina?" he growled at me, with Fang at his heels barking loudly, before half-jumping up at me happily.

"I was running through the forest and I came across something.......I found......a dead Unicorn" I stuttered out, realising my throat was drying up.

"Oh" he breathed quietly. He gestured me inside his hut, and sat me down at the table. "Where?"

"In the clearing........underneath my hoody" I finished quietly.

"Ok. Can ya look after Norbert for me? Till I get back?" he asks quietly.

I nod.

The next thing I hear, is Hagrid's door shutting, and Fang's barking growing quieter and quieter. I look over at the fire and see Norbert watching me. I stare into his yellow eyes – They have a tint of dark orange surrounding the pupils.

"You are very lucky that you have Hagrid......he loves magical creatures. He always helps them when they are lost and alone" I whisper quietly.

Norbert then gets up and comes over to the table. He then plops his butt down, lying himself on one of my feet, resting his head on my other foot, and closes his eyes.

I then lean my head on my arms watching him breath gently.

Next thing I know I'm hearing Hank's loud barks – I must have dosed off.

"Hi Hagrid" I say looking at him "Done?"

"Yeah" he answers sitting down opposite me "He's with his heard now. I promised 'em I'd find out what happened. I'm gonna need you to tell 'em proper though" he adds looking at my with his grief stricken eyes.

"Ok" I answer, getting up to make a pot of tea. "When?"

"When I got some answers to tell 'em" he adds looking down at Norbert.

"Ok" I add, grabbing some biscuits from the cupboard "Er Hagrid.....I'm sorry I have to get going" I add running out of the door and all the way up to the empty Gryffindor common room – or at least I thought it was empty, as tears began running down my cheeks.

"Sabrina?"

I spin round to see George.

"Yeah......I'm fine" I answer quickly.

"No you're not" he retorts, as he sits down next to me "What happened?"

After what felt like forever I finally answered. I told him everything. How I went out for a harmless run, and then felt the life of a beautiful Unicorn leave this world, before letting more tears roll down my cheeks.

George hugs me tightly until my tears finally stop. I then realise where I am and who I'm with......and the time - I'm supposed to be with Connor.

I hush a quick goodbye to George, and run up off. Feeling a huge wave of guilt and sadness wash over me as I leave him there alone. I was just heartbroken and crying, and he was able to make me smile and laugh, less than a few minutes later – How does he do that? How does he make me smile and laugh, and make everything better in a heartbeat?

I make it to the Ravenclaw common with a few minutes to spare – Thank Merlin.