Harry Potter : Cael Vale’s journey to Hogwarts

The warm evening wind nipped at their faces as Harry, Ron, and Hermione crossed the castle grounds, their cloaks billowing behind them. Smoke curled lazily from the crooked chimney of Hagrid's hut, the soft glow of firelight flickering through the windows.

"So… this is where Hagrid lives?" Hermione asked, clutching her cloak tighter around her shoulders.

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "Don't be nervous. He's brilliant. Bit… unconventional, but brilliant."

"And absolutely barmy about dangerous creatures," Ron added, grinning. "And his rock cakes — watch your teeth. Fred lost a filling on one."

They knocked on the heavy door. A moment later, they heard the unmistakable stomp of Hagrid's boots, and the door swung open.

"Harry! Ron!" Hagrid beamed, his massive frame filling the doorway. His eyes landed on Hermione. "And you must be Hermione Granger. Heard loads about yeh."

"Nice to meet you, er… Mr. Hagrid," Hermione said politely, though she glanced nervously past him into the smoky, cluttered room.

"Just Hagrid'll do. Come in, quick, it's Dark out there '." He ushered them inside, and the blast of heat nearly knocked them over. The place was roasting, and the fire crackled fiercely in the hearth. Fang thumped his tail once, barely lifting his head from the floor.

Hermione's eyes darted around, taking in the mess of books, kettles, and peculiar animal gear, but Ron was staring at something by the fire — a lumpy shape, swaddled in blankets, half-hidden near the hearth.

"What's that?" Ron asked, stepping closer.

"Ah—nothin'! Just… er…" Hagrid shuffled awkwardly, moving to block Ron's view. "Just somethin' I'm keepin' warm, tha's all."

Ron squinted, then his expression lit up. "Hang on… I've seen one of those. That's a dragon egg, isn't it?"

Hagrid stiffened like he'd been caught robbing Gringotts. "What? Nah! O' course not! That's—er—a rock. A decorative… garden rock."

Ron snorted. "Hagrid, my brother Charlie works with dragons. He brought an egg home once — looks exactly like that."

Hagrid sagged in defeat, scratching his beard. "Alright… yeah. It's a dragon egg. But yeh can't tell anyone, alright? Not strictly… legal, y'see."

"Not strictly?" Hermione blurted, eyes wide. "Hagrid, it's completely illegal! You can't keep a dragon in your house — they're Class A dangerous creatures—"

"Oh, don't start, Hermione," Hagrid groaned, waving a massive hand. "I've always wanted one. Won it off a stranger at the pub."

Ron gawked. "Merlin… What were you thinking?"

Before Hermione could lecture him into the ground, Harry leaned in. "Hagrid, we're not here just about the dragon."

Hagrid's bushy eyebrows furrowed. "What d'yeh mean?"

"We know what's hidden on the fourth floor," Harry said quietly. "The forbidden corridor… It's the Philosopher's Stone."

Hagrid's face darkened. "You lot've been stickin' yer noses where they don't belong."

"We had to," Hermione insisted, crossing her arms. "Someone's trying to steal it."

"We think the trolls on Halloween was part of it," Harry added. "A distraction. But whoever it was… they're still trying."

Hagrid avoided their eyes, busying himself with the kettle. "Listen… You three need to leave this be. It's not yer business."

"Someone let trolls into the castle," Ron said, incredulous. "We could've been flattened."

"Which is exactly why yeh should let Dumbledore handle it," Hagrid insisted, voice low but firm. "The Stone's safe. Protected by enchantments, creatures… more'n just Fluffy."

"Fluffy?, …..Oh Fluffy " Hermione repeated, blinking.

Hagrid cursed under his breath. "Forget I said that."

"Hagrid, we've already met Fluffy," Harry said flatly. "We're not idiots."

The room fell silent, only the crackling of the fire filling the gap. Hagrid sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I appreciate yeh care, I really do, but Dumbledore's got it covered. You lot keep to yer classes, yer exams. Let the grown-ups worry."

They exchanged uneasy glances, knowing they'd hit a wall for now.

Hagrid's hand drifted toward the egg, stroking it gently, his face softening with excitement. "Yeh got enough danger round here without addin' more."

⸻

One Week Later

Between classes, homework, and the mystery of the Philosopher's Stone, none of them could stop thinking about the dragon egg.

One chilly evening, just as the sky faded to indigo over the mountains, Harry found a note tucked under his pumpkin juice at dinner:

It's hatchin'. Tonight. Come quick. — Hagrid

Harry slid it to Ron and Hermione, who both stared wide-eyed.

"We have to go," Ron whispered, practically bouncing. "I've never seen a dragon hatch."

Hermione frowned, eyes darting around the hall. "It's reckless… But Hagrid'll probably set himself on fire if we don't."

As they crept through the dim corridors, their robes swishing behind them, Ron's excitement boiled over.

"Can you imagine? A real dragon! Charlie's gonna lose his mind—"

"Ron, shut up!" Hermione hissed, elbowing him.

Too late.

In the shadows behind them, a pale face emerged, eyes glittering — Draco Malfoy. His mouth curled into a smirk.

"Dragon, huh?" Malfoy whispered to himself, slipping after them like a snake.

By the time they reached Hagrid's hut, smoke billowed from the chimney, and the firelight flickered wildly through the window.

"Yeh made it!" Hagrid beamed, opening the door wide. The heat inside hit them like a furnace. Fang snored by the fire, while the large black egg lay nestled in blankets, rocking gently.

"It's startin'," Hagrid whispered, eyes shining.

They crowded round as the egg cracked, tiny claws punching through. With a high-pitched squeal, the baby dragon wriggled free, smoke curling from its nostrils. Its scales were rough and black, wings tucked awkwardly against its sides.

"Merlin…" Ron breathed. "A Norwegian Ridgeback…"

"He's gorgeous, isn't he?" Hagrid sniffed, cradling the little creature. "Norbert. Tha's what I'm callin' him. My dad always wanted a dragon called Norbert."

Outside, hidden in the darkness, Malfoy's jaw dropped.

"No way…" he muttered. "That oaf actually got a dragon? I asked Father for one ages ago—this is outrageous." His eyes narrowed as his mind spun with plans. He turned sharply, disappearing into the night.

Back inside, Hermione's eyes flicked toward the window. "Wait—someone's there!"

They rushed over, just in time to see a pale figure vanish into the shadows.

"Oh no," Harry groaned. "Malfoy."

"He saw the dragon," Ron muttered, color draining from his face.

"If he tells McGonagall—or worse, the Ministry…" Hermione didn't finish the thought.

Hagrid paled, holding Norbert closer. "Malfoy saw Norbert?"

Harry nodded grimly. "We need a plan. Fast."

The baby dragon gave a tiny, smoke-filled sneeze, the fire crackling beside them as tension filled the room.