THANTOPHOBIA ① g.weasley

year one: caught

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

❛Poison!❜

Over the next week, Draco Malfoy wore a smirk every time he saw the four Gryffindor first-years, which only made them more nervous. Most of their free time had been spent with Hagrid, trying to convince him to get rid of the dragon. Between Quidditch practices and taking care of the creature, Hope Lupin-Black began to fall behind in classes which worried her older brother.

"Just let him go, Hagrid," Harry Potter urged, while he and his three friends were at Hagrid's hut. "You should set him free."

Hope glared her eyes at Harry as she wrapped her arms around the small dragon. "Nobert doesn't want to leave, Harry."

"I, I can't," stressed Hagrid, eyeing the creature he had raised. "He's too little, he'd die on his own."

The dragon had grown three times in length since the week before, and Hagrid could barely keep up with work because Nobert kept him so busy. His hut was a mess from all of the brandy bottles and chicken feathers.

"Hope names him Nobert," Hagrid pointed out with a smile. "He really knows me, now. Nobert, Nobert! Where's mummy?"

"He's lost his marbles," Ron muttered into Harry's ear, rolling his eyes.

"Hagrid," Hermione spoke loudly. "Give it two weeks and Nobert's going to be as long as your house. Besides, Malfoy could go to Dumbledore at any moment."

Hagrid bit his lip, shaking his head. "I know I can't keep him forever, but I can't jus' dump him, I can't."

Hope perked up, an idea coming to her mind as she turned to the Weasley boy. "Charlie."

"Merlin, you're losing it, too." groaned Ron, pointing to himself. "I'm Ron, remember?"

"No, idiot, Charlie your brother. Charlie, who's in Romania at a Dragon sanctuary," she explained. "We could send him Nobert, and then he can take care of him there."

"Brilliant!" exclaimed Ron, looking at their friend. "How about it, Hagrid?"