This day arrived with startling swiftness.
More precisely, the Norwegian Ridgeback's growth rate exceeded everyone's wildest expectations.
"Hagrid, we're here to... BLOODY HELL!"
Brimming with curiosity and excitent about the newborn dragon, Harry and Ron burst through Hagrid's door first.
The next instant brought pure terror.
Panicked shrieks erupted as both boys tumbled backward in desperate retreat, their faces drained of all color.
"RUN, RON—IT'S COMING!" Harry's voice cracked with genuine fear.
Ron forced his trembling legs to cooperate, stumbling after his friend while casting horrified glances over his shoulder.
"rlin's beard—how did it get so MASSIVE!"
"ROAAAAAR!"
As though discovering delightful new toys, Norbert bounded from the hut in pursuit, belching smoke and sparks with predatory enthusiasm. Ron's robes still smoldered where dragon fire had kissed fabric.
"Oh no, no, NO!"
"Co back here!"
"Norbert, co to daddy!"
Accompanied by the chaotic clatter of overturning bottles, Hagrid stumbled after them in obvious panic, exhaustion etched deep in his features.
His threadbare clothing bore countless scorch marks and gaping holes from repeated dragon encounters. What remained of his once-magnificent beard hung in pathetic, singed tatters—more than half simply gone.
"This is an absolute nightmare..." Hermione observed with resigned calm, drawing her wand with practiced efficiency.
Having grown accustod to Venom's industrial-grade dentistry, Norbert's rely neck-severing jaws seed almost quaint by comparison.
"Impedinta!"
Urgent light blazed from her wand tip. For good asure, Hermione cast two consecutive Impedint Jinxes.
To her shock, both spells burst like soap bubbles against the dragon's hide—offering zero resistance to his charge.
"Oh, DAMN!"
Hermione's composure cracked entirely.
She'd never imagined a week-old hatchling could possess such formidable magic resistance.
Saliva-slicked fangs grazed Ron's posterior, scorching sparks drawing continuous screams from the unfortunate Gryffindor.
Suddenly, Norbert froze mid-pursuit.
Montum sent him tumbling in an ungainly heap, scales scraping against stone as he scrambled upright with obvious terror.
Like prey recognizing its apex predator, the young dragon fixed orange eyes on sothing behind Hermione, releasing threatening growls that carried unmistakable fear.
Tiger watched the retreat with detached interest while Draco Malfoy gazed with pure infatuation. Theodore frowned with deep concern—even juvenile dragons posed lethal threats to students.
"My first encounter with a hatchling," Ramos Tiamat murmured, stroking his chin with scholarly fascination.
He seed to be calculating how effectively a mummified dragon might enhance soul curses when properly positioned on ritual altars.
"Perfect timing, Daphne."
"I desperately need a new handbag."
Pansy smiled with predatory delight, arms crossed in aristocratic superiority as she addressed Hagrid.
"Mr. Hagrid, what's your asking price?"
Since the Ministry's "Dragon Protection and Managent Regulations," juvenile dragon hide had beco impossibly rare. Market products ca exclusively from adult specins—coarse, thick, and thoroughly unappealing.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"
"I won't sell Norbert to anyone!"
Hagrid clutched the dragon protectively, retreating several steps with obvious alarm and mounting anger.
The normally restless hatchling curled submissively into Hagrid's embrace, Venom's predatory aura awakening primal draconic terror. Norbert trembled like a frightened child.
Sensing his pet's vulnerability, Hagrid's paternal instincts flared to overwhelming intensity.
"Tch..." Pansy clicked her tongue with aristocratic displeasure.
As the Parkinson family's sole heir, she'd never encountered anything beyond her reach. Addressing this half-blood giant as "mister" already represented unprecedented condescension.
His tactless refusal stung her pride.
"Pansy, this is a DRAGON!"
"An ungrown dragon—there's no superior pet imaginable. Forget handbags."
"I'll have Father send you ten." Draco glared at his friend with obvious irritation.
"Hmph. Who cares."
Pansy turned away with wounded dignity.
"Malfoy, if..." Tiamat approached with calculated interest, his voice carrying careful deliberation.
"Hypothetically speaking..."
"Should you accidentally kill the creature..."
"I'd appreciate first consideration. Naturally, I'll pay living dragon prices."
He had no use for living specins—only corpses served his purposes.
Were it not for Malfoy family connections, tonight would see altar preparations...
"I could NEVER kill it!"
Draco nearly levitated with indignation.
He dread of sleeping beside this magnificent creature!
Everyone spoke as though Norbert's ownership was already decided, infuriating Hagrid beyond asure.
"MALFOY! SHUT YOUR POISONOUS MOUTH!"
"What are you doing here?! This isn't your place—GET OUT!"
Ron positioned himself protectively before Hagrid, neck flushed crimson as he glared at the Slytherin contingent.
"You're absolutely correct—this isn't our usual haunt."
Blaise Zabini draped an arm over Theodore's shoulder with theatrical nonchalance, regarding Ron with obvious mockery.
Theodore irritably shrugged off his friend's touch. "There's sothing here we require."
Pansy frowned with imperial disdain.
"None of your concern, Weasley."
"Stop screeching like so barnyard rooster—you're disgracing pureblood dignity entirely."
Draco sneered with aristocratic contempt, his proud features radiating superiority.
"Don't make laugh."
"Pauper Weasley—YOU should be the one leaving. Your performance was absolutely pathetic."
"Without Father, you and idiot Potter would be dragon fertilizer by now."
"Honestly, I'm rather disappointed we missed the show."
Snickers rippled through the Slytherin ranks.
"Enough chatter."
Tiger's casual gesture silenced all laughter instantly. He fixed Hagrid with predatory focus, cutting straight to business.
"Hagrid, you cannot continue raising this creature. It grows larger and more dangerous daily."
"Eventually, you'll beco its al. I'm here to assu ownership."
Hermione had warned about this repeatedly, though Hagrid had dismissed such concerns.
"NO, SHELBY!"
"I won't surrender Norbert to you!"
The Slytherins' malicious conversation made trusting them impossible. Hagrid's forr goodwill toward Tiger evaporated completely, replaced by disgust and suspicion.
Even his mode of address shifted to cold formality.
Slytherin truly harbored no decent souls!
Tiger's eyes narrowed to predatory slits, dangerous pressure radiating like a coiled serpent preparing to strike.
He possessed no patience for explanations or negotiations. Refusal to surrender desired objects ant death.
Fellow Slytherins adopted matching expressions of cold nace. Theodore and Tiamat drew wands with practiced efficiency.
Hagrid instinctively retreated, clutching Norbert protectively.
"Wait! WAIT!"
Hermione stepped forward desperately.
"Tiger, let speak with Hagrid, please?"
"I'm begging you—he'll understand eventually."
She recognized exactly where Tiger's patience had vanished. To Venom, all creatures represented potential als—a mindset increasingly influencing its host.
Nobody attempted communication with food.
Though deeply concerned, she knew such fundantal changes required ti.
Tiger's coiled tension gradually relaxed with an almost imperceptible nod. Hermione's relief was imdiate and visible.
Truthfully, she cared little about Hagrid's fate—he was rely Harry's friend, after all.
She simply wanted to prevent complete chaos while discouraging this dehumanizing perspective from further corrupting Tiger's worldview.
"Hagrid, please calm yourself."
"You understand perfectly—within a fortnight, Norbert will exceed your hut's dinsions."
"What then?"
"If soone discovers him..."
Hagrid fell silent, gazing at Norbert with trembling lips.
"I... I don't know..."
"But I absolutely cannot surrender him to THEM—they'll murder Norbert! He's my precious baby..."
Tears the size of Galleons stread down his weathered cheeks.
His trumpet-like sobs made every Slytherin ear itch with irritation.
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