Chapter 49 - An egg

As Hagrid glanced at the fire, the group of friends followed his gaze, curiosity piqued. Thomas, James, Adam, Michael, Hermione, and Ron exchanged glances, sensing there might be something more to discover.

Intrigued, Michael leaned closer, his eyes widening as he spotted a peculiar object nestled near the roaring flames. "Is that... an egg?" he whispered, unable to contain his excitement.

James and Adam's eyes widened in disbelief, mirroring Michael's astonishment. Thomas's face lit up in excitement, while Hermione's eyes darted between Hagrid and the mysterious object, her mind racing with thoughts.

Ron, being as ever curious as always, leaned forward, squinting to get a better look. "Blimey, is it really a dragon egg?"

Hagrid's eyes widened, his face turning a shade redder. "Now, now, keep yer voices down! It's best if no one knows about this little fella just yet," he said, gesturing toward the egg. "Can't let it fall into the wrong hands, can we?"

The room was filled with a mix of awe, curiosity, and concern. The friends exchanged glances once more, their minds buzzing with questions. They knew the risks and dangers associated with dragon eggs, but the sight of one right before their eyes was undeniably captivating.

"Where did it come from, Hagrid?" Hermione asked, her voice filled with both wonder and caution.

"Ah," said Hagrid, fiddling nervously with his beard. "That's … er …"

"C'mon Hagrid, where did you get it?" said Ron, crouching over the fire to get a closer look at the egg. "It must've cost you a fortune."

"Won it," said Hagrid. "Las' night. I was down in the village havin' a few drinks an' got into a game o' cards with a stranger. Think he was quite glad ter get rid of it, ter be honest."

Thomas, James, Adam, and Michael exchanged stunned glances, their jaws dropping in disbelief. It was hard to fathom that Hagrid had won a dragon egg in a card game. The mere thought of it was both thrilling and daunting.

"No way," Thomas exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment. "You won a dragon egg in a card game? That's... unbelievable!"

James chuckled nervously, scratching his head. "I've heard of winning a few Galleons or maybe a magical item in a card game, but a dragon egg? That's a whole different level!"

Adam took a deep breath, a mixture of awe and concern etched on his face. "Hagrid, winning a dragon egg is incredible, but isn't it dangerous? I mean, if the person who gave it to you knows you have it, won't they come looking to take it back?"

Hagrid's expression turned serious, a hint of worry flickering in his eyes. "Yeh raise a good point, Adam. I've thought about that meself. That's why I've been keepin' it a secret, hidden away from prying eyes. Can't be too careful with somethin' like this."

Michael nodded in agreement, his voice filled with a touch of apprehension. "You should be cautious, Hagrid. If someone finds out about the dragon egg, they might try to take it from you or use it for their own purposes."

Hagrid nodded, his bushy eyebrows knitting together. "I know, lads. That's why I'm countin' on yeh lot to keep this under wraps."

"But what are you going to do with it when it's hatched?" said Hermione.

"Well, I've bin doin' some readin'," said Hagrid, pulling a large book from under his pillow. "Got this outta the library "Dragon-Breeding for Pleasure and Profit " it's a bit outta date, o' course, but it's all in here. Keep the egg in the fire, 'cause their mothers breathe on 'em, see, an' when it hatches, feed it on a bucket o' brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour. An' see here, how ter recognize diff'rent eggs, what I got there's a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare, them."

He looked very pleased with himself, but Hermione didn't.

"Hagrid, you live in a wooden house, for god's sake!"

But Hagrid wasn't listening. He was humming merrily as he stoked the fire.

Disappointed by Hagrid's lack of interest in further conversation, the group of friends exchanged glances and realized that their time with him had come to an end. It was clear that Hagrid was preoccupied with his own thoughts and was in no mood to continue discussing the dragon egg.

Reluctantly, Thomas stepped forward, addressing Hagrid one last time. "Hagrid, we understand that you have a lot on your plate right now. If anything happens with the egg, if it hatches or anything of the sort, please let us know. We'd love to be there and see it."

Hagrid turned his attention toward Thomas, a warm smile breaking through his rugged features. "Don' you worry, Thomas. If that egg starts crackin' and somethin' comes out, yeh'll be the first to know. I reckon yeh lot would love to see a dragon hatchin', wouldn't yeh?"

Excitement sparked in the eyes of all the boys, and even Hermione couldn't help but display a hint of curiosity. "Absolutely, Hagrid! It would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Just be sure to keep it safe and take all necessary precautions."

Hagrid nodded, his voice filled with determination. "You can trust me on that, lads. I've dealt with dangerous creatures before, and I won't let any harm come to this little fella."

With those final words, the group turned to leave Hagrid's hut.

So now they had something else to worry about: what might happen to Hagrid if anyone found out he was hiding an illegal dragon in his hut.

"Wonder what it's like to have a peaceful life," Ron sighed, as evening after evening they struggled through all the extra homework they were getting. Hermione had now started making revision timetables for Harry and Ron, too. Despite that, for some reason unknown to Thomas, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had started avoiding them, almost as if they didn't want to be friends with the four Ravenclaw boys.

Meanwhile, the four Ravenclaw boys settled into the cozy atmosphere of the Ravenclaw common room, their minds were still occupied with the recent turn of events involving Harry, Ron, and Hermione. It had become apparent to them that the trio seemed to be avoiding their company, and the reason behind this sudden change remained a mystery.

Thinking about that, Thomas leaned back on a plush armchair. "I don't get it. Why would Harry, Ron, and Hermione start avoiding us? We've been friends since the beginning of the year, and we've gone through so much together."

Adam, sitting on a nearby sofa, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's strange. We've always had a good bond with them. I wonder if something happened that we're not aware of. I mean we did left separately from Hagrid's hut a few days ago."

Michael chimed in, crossing his arms. "You are right Adam. I noticed they've been acting distant ever since we visited Hagrid's hut. Do you think it has something to do with that dragon egg?"

James, who had been silently contemplating, spoke up. "It's possible. Maybe they feel like they dragged us into something dangerous. But why would they suddenly think that? It's not exactly something either one of them would think, right?"

Thomas sighed, frustration evident in his voice. "I don't know, guys. It just doesn't make sense. We should talk to them and try to figure out what's going on. Maybe there's been a misunderstanding."

Adam nodded in agreement. "You're right, Thomas. Communication is key in situations like this. Let's approach them again and make it clear that we're here to support them, no matter what they're going through."

James chimed in, his voice determined. "We've been through thick and thin together, and we owe it to our friendship to address this. It's not like them to shut us out without a valid reason."

Michael added, "But let's be understanding and give them the space they need if they're not ready to share just yet. We don't want to push them away even more."

Nodding in agreement, the four boys decided to approach Harry, Ron, and Hermione the next day to address the situation. They were determined to clear the air and find out why their friends had seemingly distanced themselves.

The following morning, during breakfast in the Great Hall, Thomas spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor table. He exchanged glances with his friends before they made their way over, trying to hide any hint of concern. As they approached, Harry's gaze flickered briefly before averting his eyes.

"Hey, Harry," Thomas began tentatively. "We've noticed that you, Ron, and Hermione have been keeping your distance lately. Did something happen? Did we do something wrong?"

Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his voice tinged with hesitation. "No, it's not that. We've just been... busy with something, that's all."

Thomas added, his tone filled with genuine concern. "But we're your friends, Harry. I'm your friend. If there's something going on, the boys and I want to help."

Ron, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "Look, it's not about you guys. It's about... well, it's complicated. We can't really talk about it right here and now."

Thomas exchanged glances with his friends, realizing that there was more to the situation than they initially thought. "Okay, I understand that you might have your reasons. But just know that we're here for you, no matter what. "

Hermione, who had been silent throughout the conversation, looked up with a mix of gratitude and apprehension in her eyes. "Thank you, Tom. We appreciate your support, really. It's just that... I don't want to put you and the rest of the boys in trouble for something that let's be honest, you four have nothing to do with."

Adam leaned forward, his voice earnest. "Don't be like that. We can handle it, Hermione. We've faced worse before, and we've come out stronger together. Trust us, we're not ones to shy away from a fight."

Michael nodded in agreement. "We've always had each other's backs, and we're not about to change that now. If you're in trouble, we want to help."

Seeing that there was not escape for them, Harry let out a sigh before he starts explaining. "Alright, I'll tell you, but promise me you won't do anything unless it's absolutely necessary. Hagrid sent us a letter and… after talking with Hermione and Ron, we decided to keep you guys away from this whole thing. I know that you guys want to help, but compared to me, who is apparently a legend, you four are just normal guys and I wouldn't forgive myself if I get you expelled while I keep attending Hogwarts because I have done something I don't even remember."

"Harry, I appreciate your concern for our well-being, but you're underestimating us. We may not be famous like you Mr. The Boy Who Lived , but we're not just 'normal guys.' We're your friends, and we've proven time and again that we can handle ourselves."

James chimed in, almost as soon as Thomas ended his sentence. "Now I don't wanna be that guy but the four of us had fought a troll and won, mainly thanks to Thomas, same thing against Fluffy and yet here we are standing. Meanwhile, you and Ron were running away faster anyone. Yet despite that you still think that we can't handle ourselves?"

Adam nodded when he heard James words. "Exactly. We're not doing this for recognition or fame. We are you bloody friends, and I reckon it's the least we deserve, Beside where would be the fun in not seeing a baby dragon?"

Michael added with a determined expression, "Now, I might not agree with my friends words, especially Adam's one related to the dragon, but I have to admit, even I kind of want to see a young hatchling."

Just as Harry was about to respond, an owl soared into the Great Hall, before landing beside Harry. As soon as he saw Hedwig landing near him, Harry picked up the letter and opened it eagerly, excited to see if it was from Hagrid.

"Guys, it's from Hagrid!" Harry exclaimed, his voice filled with anticipation. "We have to go, now!"

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