Dumbledore's warning didn't change Ethan very much.
At least, not externally.
But he understood the meaning behind it perfectly well.
That was precisely why Ethan intended to become Minister for Magic one day.
Power was the only peaceful way to resolve "historical issues."
The most important thing Dumbledore had done tonight wasn't the suitcase.
It was showing goodwill.
Dumbledore's meaning had been very clear:
If the Ministry of Magic ever turned against Ethan simply because he was a dangerous dark creature…
Dumbledore would stand on Ethan's side.
Congratulations.
Dumbledore's favourability toward Ethan had increased by +10.
After being returned to Gryffindor Tower by Fawkes, Ethan shoved the suitcase beneath his bed before crawling under the blankets while surrounded by loud snoring.
Tomorrow Norbert could finally move in.
Maybe the interior could eventually be divided into sections.
Grasslands.
Forests.
Artificial rivers.
Perhaps even livestock.
Raising sheep for Norbert to hunt naturally sounded surprisingly reasonable.
Ethan also seriously considered stealing the unicorn herd someday.
After all, they were beautiful, affectionate, smelled like ice cream, and practically radiated gold.
Ethan genuinely liked them.
The next day, after Potions class ended, Ethan brought the suitcase to Hagrid's hut.
Harry and Ron followed behind him excitedly, desperate to see what the completed box looked like.
Hermione came along as well, though her interest focused entirely on the advanced magic involved.
"Haven't you already seen something similar in the Room of Requirement?" Ethan asked helplessly while walking across the grounds. "Why are you two so impatient?"
"A house inside a box…" Harry said dreamily. "If I had one, I'd stay inside it every day after going back to the Dursleys'."
"What an ambitious life goal," Ethan commented flatly.
"Ever since you mentioned the Undetectable Extension Charm, I've been researching it," Hermione reminded him while adjusting the books in her arms. "The Ministry has extremely strict regulations about that spell."
Then she lowered her voice nervously.
"Ethan, using it on personal objects is illegal."
"It's also illegal to raise dragons, Hermione."
Ethan lowered his voice as well.
"As long as nobody discovers it, it isn't illegal."
"Besides, if anything happens, we can just say Dumbledore did it. We're children. Who would believe a first-year student could create something like this?"
Hermione opened her mouth slightly.
Then hesitated.
Unfortunately, Ethan's logic sounded disturbingly reasonable.
"Isn't blaming Professor Dumbledore a little immoral…" Harry muttered weakly.
"But it's true," Ethan replied without the slightest trace of conscience. "And he's Dumbledore. The Ministry wouldn't arrest him over an Extension Charm."
"They'd become an international joke."
"Don't worry, Hermione," Ron added helpfully. "We can just say it's a Muggle object."
"Then if anyone gets arrested, it'll be my dad."
He sounded completely unconcerned.
"At worst Mum will smack me and confiscate the box."
By the time they reached Hagrid's hut, Norbert could already recognise Ethan's footsteps.
The noisy chaos inside instantly fell silent.
The moment Ethan opened the door, Norbert launched himself toward him enthusiastically—
—and was immediately kicked backward.
The dragon folded his wings miserably and stared at Ethan in confusion.
"I almost thought you were trying to murder me," Ethan explained calmly. "Don't throw yourself at me like that."
"What if my body reacts instinctively next time?"
After all, damaging this body would be genuinely troublesome.
Once everyone entered the hut, Ethan opened the suitcase in front of them.
Inside was only a narrow staircase descending downward.
"…There's no way a person fits in there," Harry said uncertainly.
"Just take the first step," Ethan replied. "Leave the rest to magic."
Then he casually shoved Harry forward.
The staircase instantly swallowed him whole.
Hermione gasped in shock.
Hagrid entered next.
Fortunately, Ethan and Dumbledore had already modified the entrance enough to accommodate half-giants comfortably.
Once everyone descended, Ethan carried Norbert into the suitcase as well.
At the bottom of the staircase lay an entirely different world.
Rolling grasslands.
Clear streams.
An endless sky.
Wind drifted naturally across the plains while dark clouds slowly gathered overhead in the distance.
"It's… real…" Hermione whispered in disbelief.
Then she suddenly realised something horrifying.
"Wait—that's a weather-control spell!"
"I saw one mentioned in Magical Catastrophes and Atmospheric Manipulation…"
"A weather spell capable of covering this much area would require unbelievably advanced magic…"
"Dumbledore did it," Ethan replied casually.
Actually, Ethan had done it himself.
But explaining the process sounded exhausting.
And he had no interest in teaching.
"Merlin's beard, Norbert, look at this!" Hagrid cried happily while gesturing toward the open plains. "Now yeh can fly freely!"
"I'll build yeh a proper nest here! Nobody can hurt yeh!"
Originally, Ethan intended to let Hagrid handle construction first before making adjustments personally later.
After Ethan explained he would leave the suitcase with Hagrid until the end of term, Hagrid nearly cried again.
"I can visit him anytime?" Hagrid asked emotionally.
Then he pounded his chest confidently.
"Don't worry, Ethan! I'll build yeh both a proper home!"
"Norbert'll live comfortably here!"
Ethan planned to retrieve the suitcase only after final exams, shortly before leaving Hogwarts for summer.
"So Hagrid has five months to finish this massive project," Harry said thoughtfully while walking back toward the castle.
"And there's still a dragon living inside it."
"If nobody supervises him, won't Norbert eventually burn the whole thing down?"
Ethan wasn't particularly worried.
Norbert was becoming smarter surprisingly quickly.
The dragon already understood consequences.
"Five months…" Hermione suddenly repeated in horror.
"What?" Harry asked blankly. "What happens in five months?"
"Final exams!"
Hermione looked genuinely panicked.
"We only have five months left!"
"Correction," Ethan replied immediately, "it's 'we still have five months left.'"
Then he added calmly:
"You can just memorise everything before the exam."
"What happens if you fail?" Ron asked with complete sincerity.
"Did you already forget Professor McGonagall's speech?!" Hermione cried. "Students who fail their exams receive severe punishment!"
Then she paled dramatically.
"Oh no…"
"What if they expel students who fail?!"
"I should've started revising immediately after Christmas!"
"First the Philosopher's Stone, then dragons—this is madness—"
"I hope it isn't too late…"
Still muttering anxiously to herself, Hermione hurried directly toward the library.
Ron watched her leave with a strange expression.
"Honestly," he admitted quietly, "I think Hermione's crazier than the Philosopher's Stone and the dragon combined."
"Be careful saying that around her," Ethan warned wisely.
"What if we need to copy her homework later?"
....
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