Harry POV:
"Alright, everything ready?" Harry inquired, looking around at his friends.
"I still think this is ridiculous," Hermione huffed from his left.
"So you aren't coming, then?" Ron asked on Harry's right.
"I never said that!" she protested.
"Neville, you sure you're alright with staying behind? There's still room under the cloak for one more," Harry offered, turning to the last member of the group who was sitting next to Ron. They were in the Gryffindor Common Room, huddled on the couch in front of the fireplace.
Neville shook his head. "It's fine. You need to get the egg away from Hagrid and then up to the Astronomy Tower. But you won't be able to do that if someone doesn't cause a diversion."
"We already have Draco and Filch set to 'ambush' us, so you don't have to do this," Harry pointed out.
"And don't forget Hannah and Susan! They'll be getting the House Elves to help set up some distractions as well," Hermione added.
"Yeah, but what do you think will happen once Draco and Filch figure out the duel was just a sham?" Neville pointed out. "Or if the House Elves don't want to help? We need a third option."
"He's right," Ron said, siding with the slightly pudgy Gryffindor. "Always think several moves ahead. That's how you win at Chess. And, if Fred and George have taught me anything, it's always to have a couple of back-up plans in case something goes wrong. Which it almost always does."
"Fair enough," Harry hummed, unable to deny their sensible points. He then glanced up at the clock that hung above the fireplace. "Alright, it's almost midnight. Time to go!"
He took the Invisibility Cloak from his pocket and threw it over the shoulders of himself and two of his friends. Then, they all stood up, hidden from view.
"Good luck, and don't get caught!" Neville said softly as the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open before closing a second later.
The trio tiptoed along the empty hallways, quiet as a whisper. Hermione had cast a Muffling charm to make their footsteps even quieter, and it wasn't long before they left the castle without so much as a single portrait noticing them.
Through the dark they hurried, racing across the grounds until they reached Hagrid's hut.
"Remember, Ron will hold the pot while Hermione keeps it nice and warm," Harry reminded his friends.
"We know, mate, just make sure not to drop the cloak on your end," Ron told his best friend.
"Hagrid? Hagrid are you there?" Harry asked as he thumped on the door when they reached it. "It's time!"
The door swung open, and the Groundskeeper looked around before blinking in surprise when Harry revealed his face, letting it look like it was floating eerily in midair.
"It's hatching!" Hagrid said excitedly as he ushered the children inside. He was so excited, he didn't even question the Invisibility Cloak they were using.
"It's what?!" Hermione squeaked in shock as the egg in the pot rattled loudly, and a hissing like a boiling teakettle rang out.
Hagrid eagerly took the egg out from the fireplace with a pair of mitts and gingerly laid it down into a tray full of rocks and sand.
Before their astonished eyes, the smooth shell began riddled with cracks, and then, in a moment they'd never forget for the rest of their lives, the top of the egg shot off, propelled by flames, and what emerged was a surprisingly cute brown and black lizard.
"Oh, it's adorable!" Hagrid cooed as it flopped around in the sand pit, trying to stand. "I'm gonna call him 'Norbert!'"
"Norbert?" Hermione uttered, bewildered by the choice.
"Well, this changes things," Harry muttered to Ron, who nodded, wide-eyed.
"No way we're getting that thing up to the Astronomy Tower without being noticed," Ron grumbled as it eeped cutely before tearing into the hunk of charred meat Hagrid laid in front of it.
"Aww! Look at it go! Only just born and yet it can eat like a champ!" the half-giant said.
The trio exchanged worried looks. "Harry, you better go to the Astronomy Tower and let Charlie know what's going on," Ron suggested.
"Right, on my way," Harry murmured, throwing his cloak back on and hurrying out of the hut back up to the castle. There was a moment of tension when Peeves floated by, giggling to himself, but he didn't notice Harry and the rest of the way to the Astronomy Tower was clear.
Breathing heavily by the time he reached the top of the tower, Harry had to nudge the door open with his shoulder.
'Next time… don't run… up the stairs…' Harry panted a bit.
"Is that you, Harry?" the red-headed member of the trio asked as the door to the Astronomy Tower opened with nobody seemingly there.
"Yes," Harry replied, showing his head by throwing back the cloak. He ignored the intakes of breath as they realized just what it was he was wearing. "But there's been a problem."
"A problem?" one of the other wizards outside the tower asked, a frown evident in his voice.
"Yes. The, uh, egg? It hatched just a little bit ago," Harry revealed.
"Well, dragon-crap," the third member of the dragon handler group uttered. "We're not prepared to haul one of those across the country!"
"We can whip up something," Charlie assured them. "A pot with a lid and a few charms ought to do the trick."
"True," the second handler said. "Where is it?"
"In the Groundskeeper's hut. I'll show you the way," Charlie said, before turning his head back to Harry. "Can you make it back as well, or do you want a ride?"
"Ride, please," Harry requested. "I barely made it past Miss Norris getting up here."
"Alright, hop on," Charlie offered. Harry got on, being very careful with his cloak, and he was
"So, I hear you're the Seeker on the Gryffindor team," Charlie said conversationally as they descended through the dark towards the tiny pinprick of light that was Hagrid's hut.
"Yeah," Harry nodded.
"Youngest in a century, is that right?"
"So they say. I just really like to fly," Harry said with a shrug.
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