The moment the mysterious figure realized Charlie had spotted him, he bolted.
Charlie narrowed his eyes and headed for the door.
"I'll check it out."
Everyone else was still gathered around the dragon, paying no attention to the disturbance.
He pushed open the door.
A figure was scrambling away in a panic, heading back toward the castle.
That platinum-blond hair gleamed under the sunlight, impossible to mistake, even from behind.
"Draco Malfoy," Charlie sneered.
What was he doing here? Had he been eavesdropping the whole time?
Charlie raised his wand, aiming at the fleeing figure.
"Leg-Locker Curse!"
A red flash streaked through the air and hit Malfoy squarely in the back of the knees.
With a startled yelp, his legs snapped together. He lost his balance and slammed into the ground face-first, eating a healthy serving of dirt.
Charlie strolled over casually, looming over the fallen Slytherin.
"Well, well. Isn't it our dear Mr. Malfoy?"
"Slinking around like a thief, what exactly were you doing here?"
Malfoy struggled to get up, but with his legs magically bound, all he could do was push himself up on his elbows.
His face was caked in dirt, his perfect hair a tangled mess, so much for that usual aristocratic look.
"Y-you better let me go!" Malfoy stammered, trying to sound threatening but failing miserably.
"I'll report you to the professors. You're illegally keeping a dragon! My father's on the school board, he'll have you expelled!"
Charlie crouched down so they were eye to eye.
"Report us?" Charlie's smile turned wicked.
"You might want to think about the consequences of that."
Malfoy gulped.
"W-what consequences?"
"I'll turn poison into tiny flies and mosquitoes," Charlie whispered into his ear.
"They'll fly into your food… every. single. meal."
"How long do you think it'd take to kill someone?"
Malfoy went completely pale.
And he believed it. He knew Charlie could pull that off.
"I won't say anything!" he cried.
"I swear, I didn't see a thing!"
Satisfied, Charlie nodded and flicked his wand, dispelling the curse.
Malfoy's legs unlocked, and he scrambled upright, brushing off dirt and pride.
"Come on then," Charlie said, turning toward the hut.
"You're already here, might as well come in."
Malfoy wanted to run, but one look at the wand in Charlie's hand changed his mind. He followed, quietly.
Back inside, Hagrid was still doting on the baby dragon, while the others watched in fascination.
"Charlie's back," Harry said, lifting his head, then froze.
"…Malfoy?"
Ron instantly bristled.
"What's he doing here?!"
"Oh no." Hermione slapped her forehead.
"He must've overheard everything we said earlier."
Harry groaned.
"It's probably when Ron and I were talking about it outside the Great Hall!"
"We could knock him out, wipe his memory," Ron suggested, already reaching for his wand.
Charlie waved a hand, wearing his most sunshine-and-rainbows smile.
"No worries. Malfoy and I had a… friendly chat. He won't say a word. Right?"
Charlie looked sideways at Malfoy, eyes gleaming with unspoken threats.
Malfoy shuddered and nodded like a bobblehead.
"R-right, I won't say a thing!"
Ron squinted at him.
"Well I'll be… didn't think you had it in you to be scared, Malfoy."
Malfoy's face turned red.
"What nonsense are you spouting, you brainless Weasley?!"
Harry chimed in with a grin.
"Draco's more like Dragger today, caught and dragged back."
Malfoy's eyes flared with rage.
"Don't get cocky, Potter. One day, I'll have my revenge. I swear it!"
Sure, maybe he had to play nice with Charlie. But Potter? Never.
"Then go ahead and snitch," Ron taunted.
"That's what you're best at anyway."
"You little-!"
"Alright, alright!" Hagrid finally cut in to break up the bickering.
"Let's all just focus on Norbert, yeah?"
The so-called peacekeeper had really let the argument run its course before stepping in.
Malfoy, at least, stopped glaring at Harry and Ron.
Truth be told, he was quite fond of dragons. He hadn't just followed them to gather dirt, he genuinely wanted a glimpse of the baby dragon.
He grumbled under his breath but still shuffled over to the table.
"That's the dragon?" Malfoy asked quietly.
"A Norwegian Ridgeback," someone replied.
"Just hatched not even half an hour ago."
The little dragon was still wrestling with Hagrid's fingers, gnawing furiously and growling low.
Charlie frowned.
"Hagrid, this thing's far too aggressive."
"Norbert's not aggressive!" Hagrid immediately defended him.
"He's just playing!"
Somehow, in the brief time they'd been gone, Hagrid had already named it.
"You think he's not aggressive just because he can't hurt you," Charlie replied.
"But what if he'd bitten Harry just now?"
"What if it had gone for the neck? He'd be dead."
Harry's face twisted.
Okay, that was… a bit much.
Hearing that, Hagrid's face changed instantly.
If there was one thing he cared about more than dragons, it was Harry's safety.
"No way! Norbert would never hurt Harry!"
He waved his hands frantically, but his voice lacked conviction.
Charlie shrugged.
"You can't guarantee that."
"Unless you plan to raise him in isolation and never let him near another person, you'd better start training him. Make sure he knows who's boss."
Hagrid looked between Norbert and Harry, torn with guilt and worry.
The baby dragon kept gnawing on his fingers, those golden slit pupils still burning with wild instinct.
"But I don't know how to train a dragon," Hagrid muttered, scratching his tangled beard.
Charlie smirked devilishly.
"I do."
Hagrid's eyes lit up.
"Really?! Charlie, can you train Norbert for me?!"
"Of course." Charlie nodded.
"But not here. This place is too small."
"Where then?" Hagrid asked quickly.
"Outside the Forbidden Forest," Charlie pointed through the window.
"No people, no risk of discovery."
A few minutes later, the group gathered in a clearing near the forest's edge.
Hagrid cradled Norbert in his arms like a newborn, terrified of hurting him.
The little dragon squirmed restlessly, occasionally snapping at the air.
Charlie raised his wand and gave it a few graceful swishes.
"Transfigure."
The vines on the ground twisted into a sturdy iron chain.
He grabbed the chain and gently looped it around Norbert's neck.
Norbert let out a furious roar, thrashing wildly.
But the chain held firm. As a newly hatched dragon, he simply wasn't strong enough to break it.
"Charlie, you're hurting him!" Hagrid panicked.
"Relax, I won't hurt him," Charlie said calmly.
Hagrid still looked uneasy but didn't intervene.
Charlie tossed the chain's end over a tree branch and handed it to Harry and Ron. He whispered instructions.
They exchanged looks.
This was definitely going to be weird.
"Alright, lower him down," Charlie said.
Hagrid reluctantly placed Norbert on the ground.
The baby dragon immediately lunged at the chain, trying to bite through it. But he was far too weak.
Charlie stepped forward.
Norbert crouched low and hissed, baring his fangs.
Charlie gently prodded his snout with a stick.
That was enough.
The dragon exploded with rage, snapping at Charlie's hand.
"Fly him!" Charlie shouted.
Harry and Ron pulled the chain.
Norbert shot up into the air like a kite. His claws flailed helplessly.
Clink! The chain stretched taut.
Dragon-taming special: Dragon Kite Edition!
Hermione gasped, covering her mouth.
Malfoy was frozen in awe.
"Bloody hell!" Hagrid rushed forward in a panic.
"Charlie, put him down!"
"Wait," Charlie blocked him.
"Just imagine if it had been Harry's neck instead."
Hagrid froze.
The image flashed through his mind, Harry, bitten and lifeless.
He stopped, eyes brimming with tears as he looked at Norbert dangling in the air.
"Alright. Bring him down."
[His Majesty indulges in dog-training and neglects state affairs. Tyrant Points +3]
Charlie ignored the system.
Seeing Norbert gasping for breath, he signaled for Harry and Ron to lower him.
The little dragon collapsed on the ground, panting.
He still glared at Charlie and opened his mouth again.
"Fly him!" Charlie barked.
The boys pulled again.
Back up Norbert went.
They repeated the process several times, sprinkling in other training techniques like:
<> Dragon Fruit Temptation
<> The Hidden Heel Stomp
<> Emergency CPR
<> War Trample Simulation
Eventually, Norbert stopped biting altogether. In fact, when he saw Charlie, he'd lift a foot and nuzzle up to him.
Hagrid, once worried, was stunned.
He watched Norbert rub against Charlie's leg affectionately and gasped:
"Charlie… you're a miracle worker."
<><>---------------------------------------
200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
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• TL/N •
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
> Naruto: Mind Control
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed