Chapter 242: New Card: "The Insatiable Durasole"—Wait, Why Is It Coming Straight at Us?!
The cause of this incident was very simple. In Care of Magical Creatures class, Hagrid believed that after the stepping stone of Hippogriffs, he could finally bring out the real "big one."
So he brought out a Norwegian Ridgeback that dwelled in the deepest reaches of the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid still called it his 'hatchling,' though that term was laughably inaccurate now. In the two-plus years since it hatched, it had grown to the size of a house.
When it gazed down upon them with those orange, vertically-slit pupils, Harry could absolutely swear he saw ravenous hunger within them.
Ron's face twisted miserably as he muttered, "Bloody hell, it's definitely thinking 'these two-legged sheep look absolutely delicious!'"
By contrast, the Ravenclaws attending class alongside Gryffindor seemed far more composed and at ease. They huddled together, discussing matters such as "the spinal ridge's age-related expressions" and "the hardness of scale surfaces."
The reason was simple. "We have Ethan!"
Michael smugly raised his eyebrows toward those Gryffindors.
Winter turned mild. Pale sunlight filtered through the branches and fell upon the black-haired youth's brow, painting his pale face with faint warmth. Around him, fine dust drifted like sprites, radiating an atmosphere of serene elegance.
Making the surrounding girls turn their heads in succession, their faces flushed as they whispered quietly. "Ethan, when he's not speaking, is really so handsome, truly possessing the bearing of humanity."
"Completely embodies Ravenclaw's refined intellectual elegance."
"Exactly. The Prophet actually spread rumors that Ethan was involved with that fugitive—they clearly don't understand Ethan's true nature!"
"Hey, you over there, move aside. You're blocking our view of the handsome guy."
Michael—that "you over there"—quietly stepped back, leaving two trails of tears on his face. He clenched his fists in anger.
Just because he's good-looking, does that mean he can do whatever he wants?
Hagrid called out enthusiastically. "Right then! Everyone! Look at this adorable dragon baby—it's just at the age where it's about to leave its mother! I brought it out just so it could get familiar with the environment!"
Ron panicked. "Familiar with where it's going to find its next meal?!"
"Although it's quite large, there's no need to worry!" Hagrid replied cheerfully. "Norbert is a very well-behaved baby."
The "very well-behaved baby" snorted loudly. Immediately, jets of crimson flame erupted from its mouth and nostrils, instantly charring the ground before it.
All the students shrieked and retreated backward. Taking the " Taking Care of Magical Creatures" class was definitely the worst decision they'd made in their entire lives.
Hagrid gazed at the black dragon hatchling with loving eyes, moved to tears. "Oh, look at how healthy it is! I promise, as long as you don't provoke it actively, Norbert will be completely safe."
"No wonder other schools have fewer students," Harry complained flatly. He took off his glasses and wiped the ash-covered lenses, squinting as he looked around.
Today, the Spotted Dog didn't come either.
Ever since the Hogsmeade incident, that clever guard dog had vanished. According to Ethan, it had disappeared sadly due to negligence in its duties. Making it seem as though that dog had more humanity than Ethan.
Harry's mind wandered aimlessly. Even as his heart ached a little from missing it, just then, the black dragon hatchling's gaze suddenly locked onto Harry. Its vertically-slit pupils contracted into needle-thin points, focusing on the light reflected through his glasses as the sun passed through them.
Hagrid keenly noticed. Its tail began swishing left and right. This was a sign of preparations for hunting.
"Norbert? No—"
"ROAAAAR!"
In the midst of the students' screaming, the black dragon charged forward suddenly! Its excited gaze fixed on the bewildered-looking Harry.
"W-what?!"
Harry hurriedly scrambled to put on his glasses. What entered his vision was the Norwegian Ridgeback's massive fanged maw, now mere inches from his face. Dagger-like venomous fangs appeared ready to snap down and "bite."
In that instant, Harry's heart stopped. First-year—leaked the Philosopher's Stone secret. Second-year—giant spider nest. Third-year—Norwegian Ridgeback. Hagrid, you really do want me dead!
The very next second, "Portal."
"Incarcerous!"
Two voices, nearly overlapping, rang out simultaneously.
Harry felt the ground disappear beneath his feet. His entire body suddenly dropped into a pitch-black gateway. At the same time, a spell shot forth and struck the Norwegian Ridgeback, transforming into a binding light circle that firmly restrained its movements.
"ROAAAARRR—!"
In the midst of its angry roar, Harry's heart jumped. Instinctively, he gazed toward where the spell had originated.
It was a man with a messy appearance. The man he'd encountered that day in the Shrieking Shack.
Sirius Black.
The next instant, Harry crashed through the darkness and landed hard on the grass. Gasping for breath, he looked up and gripped his wand tightly.
The field fell completely silent.
All the students froze, staring at the man who suddenly emerged from the Forbidden Forest.
Until a thunderous roar erupted. "SIRIUS BLACK!!"
Only Hagrid suddenly lunged forward. That tremendous momentum was comparable to an ancient mythological giant consumed by fury.
Pain flashed across Sirius's eyes, but he still nimbly raised his wand, firing off "Impedimenta." At the same time, he rolled aside, dodging Hagrid's charging form despite the spell's resistance.
"Huh?"
Even Norbert was distracted by this sudden great battle. It tilted its head curiously, watching those two-legged creatures firing colorful light from their little sticks.
Just then, the students finally came to their senses. They shrieked in terror. "A-AHHHHHHH! IT'S SIRIUS BLACK! THE FUGITIVE SIRIUS BLACK!!"
They instantly fell into chaos, shouting and shoving as they ran toward the castle. Some even tripped, but they didn't stop to help, leaving only limited-edition large footprints on black cloaks.
Sirius called out desperately, "Can't you look at your own students?! They're about to cause a trampling accident. Incarcerous!"
Hagrid roared, "So you can kill them instead?! Take this punch!"
Sirius was anxious and desperate.
Just then, a clear, melodious voice that contrasted sharply with the surrounding chaos rang out. "Go forth, 'The Insatiable Durasole.' Let me test this new card's effects."
The very next instant, a sharp, graceful deer cry pierced the frozen earth. "Neighhhhhh—"
It resounded through this frozen forest wilderness, like an echo reverberating through a valley, hanging ethereally in the air. It instantly calmed this chaotic situation.
The students trembled and turned their heads in astonishment, only to see Ethan holding a painting from which poured brilliant, dazzling golden light.
That's right! They still had Ethan!
The students' eyes lit up. An immense sense of security washed over them.
"It's Ethan! We have our 'Beacon of Ravenclaw!'"
"By the look of it, that should be another new card, right?"
"It feels quite luminous. That sound is gentle and beautiful too, not like something terrifying like Cerberus."
The students stopped running. They gazed expectantly at Ethan, eager to watch how he obliterated the fugitive Sirius Black.
Ethan smiled faintly. He called out sharply, pouring magical power into the painting in his hand.
"Hualaaaaa—"
Golden light erupted magnificently, obscuring everyone's vision. Even Hagrid and Sirius involuntarily squinted.
Immediately following, they felt the ground shake with a boom, as if a mountain was collapsing and something incomparably massive and heavy crashed to the ground.
After a few seconds, the light weakened slightly. The students eagerly opened their eyes and gazed forward.
What they saw was a creature the size of a hill stretching across the frozen earth. It resembled a moose overall, with thick, gnarled antlers branching like ancient trees. Its muzzle protruded forward, tapering into an inverted cone shape beneath its broad, raised forehead, covered in brown fur. Its black nostrils flared wide, expelling white mist.
In comparison, humans were so infinitesimally small.
Dead silence.
The mighty black dragon hatchling froze in place, instinctively curling its body inward to suppress its aura and trembling slightly.
That's not prey. That's a terrifying apex predator.
A student came to his senses and trembled with fear and excitement as he shouted, "The more terrifying and grotesque, the better! This is what's meant to be used against the fugitive Sirius Black!!"
His words had barely fallen when that colossal head lying on the frozen earth slowly rotated its angle, turning toward the shouting student.
In the grip of terror, the creature's eyes curved, and it pulled back the lips stuck to its square, human-like teeth.
"Neighhhhhh—"
Clear and beautiful, it called out—as if mocking all those present.
Students: Oh shit!!!
This horrifying monster seems to be coming straight at us?!