The next few days at Hogwarts were a blur of activity and excitement. Arthur tried to put the incident with the mirror behind him, focusing instead on his studies and Quidditch practice. Yet, a sense of restlessness lingered, a feeling that something significant was about to happen. It was during one of these ordinary days that Arthur and Draco found themselves wandering near the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the ground, and the air was filled with the distant sounds of magical creatures. They were discussing their Potions assignment when they overheard a familiar, booming voice.
"Hagrid," Arthur whispered, motioning for Draco to follow him. They crept closer, using the thick foliage as cover.
"...can't wait fer it to hatch!" Hagrid's voice carried through the trees. Arthur and Draco exchanged puzzled glances. Hagrid was known for his love of magical creatures, but what could he be talking about?
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Should we find out?"
Arthur nodded, a sense of curiosity overcoming his usual caution. They carefully made their way towards Hagrid's hut, ensuring they stayed out of sight. Peeking through a gap in the curtains, they saw Hagrid hunched over the fireplace with none other than the golden trio.
"You're the only one who knows how to get past Fluffy, aren't you, Hagrid?" Harry was saying anxiously. "And you wouldn't tell anyone, would you? Not even one of the teachers?"
"Fluffy? What's a Fluffy?" Draco whispered to Arthur.
"Shh. Be quiet."
"Not a soul knows except me an' Dumbledore," said Hagrid proudly.
"Well, that's something," Harry muttered to the others. "Hagrid, can we have a window open? I'm boiling."
Oh dear, Arthur thought.
"Can't, Harry, sorry," said Hagrid. Arthur noticed him glance at the fire.
What is going on there?, Arthur thought again.
"Hagrid – what's that?"
Arthur already knew what it was. In the very heart of the fire, underneath the kettle, was a huge, black egg.
Draco's eyes widened in astonishment. "A dragon egg?" he whispered incredulously.
Arthur nodded slowly, unable to tear his eyes away from the scene unfolding before them. They watched as Hagrid, with a mix of pride and anxiety, tended to the egg, turning it gently with a pair of large tongs.
"We have to tell someone," Draco hissed, his expression a mix of excitement and fear. "This is illegal."
Arthur felt a pang of sympathy for Hagrid. The gentle giant had always been kind to him, and he knew how much Hagrid loved magical creatures. "We can't," Arthur whispered back. "If we do, Hagrid will be in big trouble. We need to keep this a secret."
Draco looked torn, but he nodded reluctantly. "Alright, whatever you say, Reeves."
They slipped away from Hagrid's hut, their minds racing with the implications of what they had just witnessed. The next few days were filled with anxious glances and whispered conversations as they tried to piece together what Hagrid was planning to do with a dragon egg.
.....
The following week, Arthur and Draco found themselves in the greenhouse for Herbology class. The room was filled with the earthy scent of soil and the vibrant colors of magical plants. Professor Sprout, with her wide-brimmed hat and dirt-streaked apron, was explaining the proper care of Puffapods, delicate plants whose pods exploded into large pink flowers when dropped.
Arthur was carefully repotting a Puffapod when he overheard Harry, Hermione, and Ron's heated discussion nearby. He nudged Draco, who was struggling to contain a wriggling Fanged Geranium.
"Hermione, how many times in our lives are we going to see a dragon hatching?" Ron exclaimed, his voice a mix of excitement and frustration.
Hermione, her hands dirty from planting, shot him a stern look. "We've got lessons, we'll get into trouble, and that's nothing to what Hagrid's going to be in when someone finds out what he's doing."
"Shut up!" Harry whispered urgently, glancing around to make sure they weren't overheard.
They were only a few feet away and had stopped dead to listen. Arthur noticed the calculating look in Harry's eyes and felt a surge of anxiety. Draco turned to Arthur, whispering, "Did you catch that?"
Arthur nodded, his mind racing. "We need to be careful. If they find out we know, it could get messy. Just promise me you won't go there."
Professor Sprout called the class to attention, demonstrating the proper way to handle the Venomous Tentacula. As they worked, Arthur and Draco exchanged worried glances. The secret about the dragon was becoming more precarious by the minute.
...
Later that evening, Arthur was in the common room reading a textbook. The classes today had taken a toll on him, and the dragon... the egg that was hatching... and Hagrid, who he knew only meant well, kept floating into his thoughts. Trying to put these out of his mind, he focused on what he was reading.
The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The Stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal.
Metal to gold? Immortality? Well, this is an upgrade to unicorn blood. But, immortality? That's a bit too much...
His thoughts were interrupted by Draco, who burst into the room, looking flustered and out of breath.
"They saw me!" Draco exclaimed.
Arthur's heart sank. "Who? What happened?"
"Potter and his friends. They saw me sneaking around near Hagrid's hut. I think they know we're onto something."
Arthur closed his book and stood up, his mind racing. "I thought I told you not to go there, Draco."
"I was just curious. And if Potter is involved, it was bound to get bad," Draco replied, a hint of defensiveness in his tone.
"What now?" Arthur asked.
"I'm thinking we could use this to our advantage, you know, to scare them off. They know that we know, so they'll think we are going to tell and probably convince the big oaf to let the little one go."
Arthur considered this. It was good reasoning. "First, never call him an oaf. Second, what are they going to do?" Arthur asked, pointing at Crabbe and Goyle sitting down in a corner.
"The usual", Draco replied. "Look menacing."
"And if it doesn't work?"
"I'll tell on him."
Arthur sighed. "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that."
...
Arthur and Draco were about to break a rule. The golden trio was planning to sneak the dragon out of Hogwarts under the cover of darkness. It was risky, foolhardy even, but Harry, Hermione, and Ron were nothing if not determined.
The castle was eerily silent as they slipped out of their dormitory, the cold stone floors sending shivers up their spines. They moved quickly and quietly, sticking to the shadows. The portraits on the walls watched them with keen interest, but none called out.
They finally reached a staircase and hid behind a large statue nearby. After a few tense minutes, they felt the trio slipping past as they could hear small footsteps. Arthur and Draco exchanged glances and followed them as the trio walked slowly under the Invisibility Cloak.
Arthur and Draco (thinking they were following the trio) made their way through the darkened corridors, heading toward the Astronomy Tower. They trailed them, careful to stay out of sight. They were almost at the tower when disaster struck.
"Arthur, watch out!" Draco hissed, grabbing Arthur's arm and pulling him back just in time to avoid Filch, the caretaker, and Mrs. Norris, his cat, who were patrolling the hall.
They ducked into an alcove, holding their breath as Filch's lantern light passed dangerously close. When the coast was clear, they came out, but just as they were about to continue their journey, a stern voice cut through the darkness.
"And just what do you two think you're doing out of bed at this hour?"
Arthur and Draco froze, turning to see Professor McGonagall standing there, her expression one of severe disapproval. She was wearing her dressing gown and a tartan nightcap, and her sharp eyes missed nothing.
"We... uh..." Draco stammered, looking for an excuse.
"We were following Potter and his friends," Arthur blurted out. "They've got a dragon and they're trying to sneak it out of the castle."
McGonagall's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly regained her composure. "A dragon, you say? And you thought it prudent to follow them rather than informing a professor?"
Professor McGonagall grabbed Draco by the ear. That's going to hurt, Arthur thought.
"Detention!" she shouted. "And forty points from Slytherin! Wandering around in the middle of the night, how dare you –"
"You don't understand, Professor, Harry Potter's coming – he's got a dragon!", Draco said, trying to pry his ear from the professor's hand
"What utter rubbish! How dare you tell such lies! Come on – I shall see Professor Snape about you two!"
They were escorted back to their dormitory by the professor, where they received a stern lecture.
As Arthur lay in bed later that night, his mind raced with thoughts of the dragon and Hagrid. He could only hope that everything would resolve itself somehow. But for now, all he could do was wait anxiously for what the new day would bring.