If dragons expressed affection just by whimpering, Anthony could barely accept it. But breathing fire at each other was clearly a dragon bonding method. Norbert quickly breathed another flame.
"We really need to send you away soon," Anthony told Norbert. It was clawing tightly at his pocket, trying to tear a second robe off him.
Hagrid watched Norbert rapturously, bright black eyes shining with dreamlike light. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Anthony didn't answer. Instead covered his pocket, surveyed Hagrid's hut. "After that fire, did Minerva come looking for you?"
"No," Hagrid said. "You know, I'm a bit out of the way. Not many people come by normally."
Anthony looked down at Norbert, met its evil eyes. Norbert's nostrils flared. A huge plume of black smoke poured out, brewing the next flame.
"Don't," Anthony said, cast an extinguishing charm (Charlie's friends had sent him three very detailed pages of spell introductions—looked torn from some book), continued with Hagrid: "That's good news. Otherwise you'd have to explain what happened to everyone."
Norbert sneezed. A few weak sparks shot from its nose. It scratched its nose puzzledly with a wing spike, then started chewing the spike.
"According to Fred and George, we need to bring Norbert into the castle, find the one-eyed witch statue on the third floor—I think I know which one they mean—say the spell, then we'll find the passage to Honeydukes."
Anthony said, watched Hagrid put a stack of rock cakes in the crate. "We'll be carrying a dragon, trying to sneak out of Honeydukes' cellar. Then, if we're lucky, Dumbledore will descend from the heavens, stop the Ministry from sending us to Azkaban for theft or smuggling. This all sounds absolutely wonderful. Perfect plan."
Hagrid, immersed in sadness, answered absently: "Of course, Henry."
"Quirrell was right. I must be mad," Anthony said, shaking his head, tossed a dead rat to Norbert stumbling over. "Never mind. One step at a time."
Anthony cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself. But somehow, it didn't seem to work on Hagrid.
"I can wear my coat," Hagrid said in a muffled voice. "Let me hold Norbert under my clothes. No one will notice, right?"
"I'll pray we don't run into anyone," Anthony said, canceled his Disillusionment Charm, thought he should have brought the Wraith Mouse. "All right, bring Norbert, Hagrid. If you want to wear your coat, I won't stop you. We're ready to go."
"O—okay," Hagrid said, eyes reddening again. He gently lifted the crate containing Norbert. The hatchling was restlessly banging the tightly sealed lid inside.
They left Hagrid's hut. Fang was listlessly gnawing a bone in the shadow of the eaves. Saw them come out. Barked loudly.
"Quiet, Fang," Hagrid said. "We don't want to be discovered."
"It's fine, Hagrid," Anthony said. "Even in your coat, you standing by your house is perfectly normal. Don't act so nervous."
"Oh—all right, sorry," Hagrid said, still slightly hunched, trying to tiptoe beside Anthony.
The moment they entered the castle, Filch appeared from somewhere. Mrs. Norris at his feet.
"Professor Anthony, I thought you'd gone home?" Filch said suspiciously, nose twitching. "And you—Hagrid, why are you here?" He eyed Hagrid's moleskin coat. Thumping sounds came from underneath. "What's that noise?"
"I'll be wherever I want, Filch," Hagrid said irritably.
"Mr. Filch." Anthony nodded at Filch, said cheerfully: "Yes, after I got home, I couldn't find my coconut ice anywhere. I was planning to give it to a friend. Oh right, I forget if I mentioned that friend—he gave me a huge bottle of Elixir to Induce Euphoria. Genius potion..."
"All right, go get your coconut ice, Professor Anthony," Filch interrupted, glanced at Hagrid again, walked away shaking his head, muttering "drunk."
Anthony looked around. Madam Pomfrey's figure flashed behind a pillar.
"Quick," he said. "Before more people spot us."
Hagrid followed him upstairs, lightening his steps as much as possible.
They circled a landing silently and cautiously. Norbert seemed asleep. Small snores came from the crate. Another landing... Anthony's mood lightened. All students were on holiday. The castle was empty.
"Brilliant, Henry," Hagrid said, following Anthony upstairs, steadily protecting the crate in his arms. "What's Elixir to Induce Euphoria?"
"I don't know. Something like a Cheering Charm, I guess," Anthony said. "Caredi complained to me she should drink some before grading papers."
A cold snort came from above.
Anthony looked up. Snape stood leisurely on the second-floor landing, greeted falsely: "Look who it is. Professor Anthony, and—Hagrid. So pleased to see you."
Anthony took a quiet deep breath. "Professor Snape, good afternoon."
"Must be something very urgent to make you return after claiming you'd left school?" Snape said smoothly, gaze falling on the bulge under the coat making snoring sounds. "What's that novelty, Hagrid?"
Hagrid made a choking greeting sound. Snape's thin lips twisted into a strange smile.
"Yes, very urgent," Anthony smiled. "So if you don't mind, Professor Snape, please excuse us."
"Actually, I do mind," Snape said smoothly, suddenly blocked their way upstairs. "I need to be vigilant during the holiday about anyone... who shouldn't be here. And of course, things that shouldn't be here." He glanced at Hagrid's robes again. "You can understand, can't you, Anthony? Especially after what happened before the end of last term?"
"Of course, Professor Snape," Anthony said. "But I recall you left school too?"
"Unlike you, Anthony, I returned by invitation," Snape said. "Poppy wanted to discuss medication efficacy for Mr. Davies. What have you brought into the school?"
"My experimental supplies. You can probably imagine, for me..." Anthony said meaningfully, "it's hard to find a suitable place to experiment. Now that there are no students at school, it seems a good option."
Snape stared into his eyes. "Your experiments..."
"The Headmaster agreed," Anthony said quickly. "In fact, I consulted him about whether I should continue research. He encouraged me to make some cautious attempts within my capabilities. You can verify with him anytime."
Snape snorted heavily. Asked Hagrid: "What about you, Hagrid? What are you doing? Becoming another experimental supply?"
"Um..." Hagrid said.
Anthony took over: "My experimental supplies are too heavy and very precious. I can't risk using Levitation Charms. Hagrid very kindly decided to help me."
"Very kindly," Snape repeated, gaze still refusing to leave Hagrid's coat.
"And I must maintain its environmental temperature," Anthony said. "You know, my experiments... have certain dangers."
Then Norbert woke up. Started angrily banging the crate again.
"A reminder—there's a simple spell called a Heating Charm—" Snape said.
Anthony interrupted: "And it's strictly controlled by the Ministry."
Snape's gaze swept between him and Hagrid. Finally said: "I suggest you be careful, Hagrid. Some may have different views, but I wouldn't trust a... wizard who's only been at Hogwarts one year." He omitted some modifiers before "wizard," passed Anthony and Hagrid, strode toward the dungeons.
Hagrid exhaled a long breath. Anthony tried to make his voice sound light and cheerful: "It's fine, Hagrid. Let's go. We're almost there."
"Yeah, yeah," Hagrid muttered. Strange sounds came from the crate. Norbert seemed to be eating stoat sandwiches.
The third-floor corridor was deserted. They successfully found the humpbacked one-eyed witch. So smooth Anthony couldn't believe it. A miracle Filch or Snape hadn't secretly followed them.
Now was the test of whether Fred and George had suddenly decided to add some pranks to professors' lives.
Anthony drew his wand, whispered: "Dissendium." He tapped the statue. The hump opened. But looked like only thinner people could squeeze through.
"All right, I knew something would go wrong," Anthony said. "Give me the crate, Hagrid. See you in Hogsmeade—change of plans. You distract the Honeydukes staff. I'll sneak out."
"Oh, Norbert," Hagrid said, clutched the crate to his chest, then reluctantly handed it to Anthony. "See you at Honeydukes. Take care. Look after Norbert."
"You be careful too," Anthony instructed. "Whatever anyone asks, just say I asked you to help buy coconut ice from Honeydukes, okay?"
"Coconut ice," Hagrid repeated. "No problem." He pulled out a handkerchief, blew his nose loudly—like he was allergic to the words "coconut ice."
Anthony pushed the crate deeper, crawled into the passage. "I promise it'll be fine. Be strong, Hagrid. Norbert needs your help now."
"Right," Hagrid said, sounding much firmer. "I'm Norbert's mum. See you soon, Henry."
The passage was slippery, dark, freezing cold. Like a stone slide. Anthony held Norbert's crate to his chest, slid down.
A balloon on the crate popped. The passage immediately echoed with explosive sound, like it would collapse. The whimpering hatchling flapped in the crate, frantically trying to push open the lid.
"All right, all right, it's fine," Anthony soothed.
They landed on dirt in the darkness. Anthony had almost thought he was going to the basilisk dining hall again. But he felt around—no bones nearby.
"Lumos," he whispered softly. The wand tip immediately glowed white. The dragon gradually calmed. Started eating its dead rats again.
The passage was unbelievably long. Extremely winding.
The ground wasn't very even. Norbert jostled around in the crate, angrily puffing black smoke through the cracks. Anthony suspected it had roasted the rock cakes again.
After walking who knows how long, a long, long stone staircase appeared ahead.
"Would it be faster if you flew up yourself?" Anthony asked Norbert, lifted the crate higher. "All right, let's go. Hagrid should be there already."
Norbert answered with angry banging and charred crumbs falling through the crate cracks.
"What's that spell that makes others unable to hear your sounds called again?" Anthony muttered to himself, climbing step by step. "Wait, is there such a spell? I really should review more... Charms is quite interesting..."
Norbert bashed the crate, making it slam against his chest. Like an external, square, irregular heart.
"Hey, Hagrid and I will probably visit you," Anthony said. "Really not used to... you know, you're a dragon, and..." He stood on the stairs, a bit dazed, said quietly: "You're alive."
Another balloon popped. In the wand's steady glow, Anthony saw a sharp little golden claw poke through the crate crack, precisely burst the pink balloon.
Anthony vanished all the balloons. Norbert made angry sounds, scratched at the crate.
"Think a Stunning Spell would work on you?" Anthony asked. "Haven't tried that yet."
The stone stairs brought them to a trapdoor. Anthony listened a while. Heard nothing. Carefully pushed open the trapdoor. Just like the Weasley twins said—this was a cellar storing boxes of sweets. Norbert started whimpering again.
Anthony slowly walked toward the wooden stairs leading up. Heard voices and footsteps above.
Hagrid's loud voice: "Yes, still coconut ice. I need—Henry needs—uh, three boxes."
"Three boxes?" the clerk said. "In that case, I suggest Professor Anthony use our owl ordering service. We can mail sweets directly to his address—here, this is the order form. I've filled in the quantity. You can write the delivery address here."
"No, no," Hagrid said. "I need three boxes now."
"But you already asked for two boxes," the clerk said. "Are you sure you want to carry five boxes? Our owl delivery isn't expensive..."
Hagrid sounded almost pleading: "Yes, please open the warehouse door one more time..."
An unfamiliar woman's voice said impatiently: "Move the boxes aside—three bags of Chocolate Frogs, how much?"
"Dear, get three more boxes of coconut ice for Mr. Hagrid. Check the stock while you're at it," the clerk said. "This way, madam."
Footsteps approached. Anthony recast a Disillusionment Charm, quickly hugged the crate, hid under the stairs, prayed to—whatever, God, Merlin, Death, Norbert's toy bear, and the garlic portrait at Quirrell's office door—that the dragon could stay quiet a few minutes. He stuck his pinky through the crate crack, hoped the dragon would be busy gnawing his hand and forget about banging the crate.
"Pleased to see you, Professor Anthony," the person under the stairs said cheerfully.
Anthony saw with surprise a red-haired young man emerge from under the stairs. Fred or George Weasley was grinning at him delightedly.
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