Chapter 85: Easter Dragon
Easter break arrived quickly. Perhaps because exams were approaching, all the professors assigned massive amounts of homework, making the hard-earned holiday less enjoyable.
Ethan had to send a letter home, telling his family that due to excessive homework, he couldn't return home for the holiday.
He could only have Edward deliver the candy, drinks, and other interesting items he'd planned to bring home, trip after trip.
Averaging one trip per day, it took three round trips to deliver everything. Edward was exhausted.
"Thank you, thank you. I specially bought owl feed for you." Ethan quickly brought out a pile of prepared food to replenish the tired owl.
Besides sending gifts, the four of them spent most of their time in the library, where Hermione made revision plans for everyone.
Ethan glanced at it a few times and set it aside for now.
Unlike Hermione, who wanted to be first in every subject, he only needed to pass subjects like History of Magic and Astronomy.
For the other five subjects, except Herbology (he wasn't sure if the exam would be practical or written, making it less certain), with his current progress, he definitely wouldn't score low.
That afternoon, as Ethan studied his Transfiguration notes, he heard Ron sigh, "I'll never remember this."
Then he heard Ron speak again, much louder, "Hagrid?! What are you doing in the library?" earning a warning from Madam Pince.
"The next person to make noise can leave!"
Ron shrank back.
"Just browsing." Hagrid, in his moleskin coat, hid something behind his back.
Harry had many questions about the safeguards protecting the Philosopher's Stone, but seeing Ethan present, he closed his mouth.
"What was he hiding behind his back just now?" Harry was curious.
"I'll go find what book he was looking at." Ron, eager to stop studying, volunteered and headed toward the bookshelf where he'd seen Hagrid.
Soon, he returned with an armful of books.
"Dragons!" He dropped the books heavily on the table.
Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland, From Egg to Inferno, A Dragon Keeper's Guide.
"Hagrid was looking up dragon-related information." He lowered his voice to avoid being thrown out by Madam Pince.
Harry was unconcerned. "Hagrid's always wanted to raise a dragon. He told me that the first time I met him."
"That's illegal! Dragon breeding was officially banned in 1709." With a brother who raised dragons in Romania, Ron knew all about these matters.
"What is he trying to do?" Hermione asked in confusion.
Ethan interjected, "Just go ask him directly. No need to speculate here."
So, after packing up, they set off for Hagrid's hut.
All the curtains in Hagrid's wooden hut were drawn tight, making it look nothing like daytime.
When they knocked and called out, Hagrid first made sure they were friends before letting them in.
Ethan felt the stifling, scorching air in the small hut and felt dizzy for a moment.
He looked at the fireplace. Fang was still alone, but beside him was a black egg.
Harry also saw the egg. "Hagrid, you're not really going to raise a dragon, are you? That's illegal!"
"It's fine. No one will know I'm raising a dragon, as long as you don't tell." Hagrid made a "shh" gesture at them.
"Where did you get it? It must have cost a fortune?"
"Won it," Hagrid said proudly. "Won it playing cards with a stranger last night while drinking in Hogsmeade."
"I've read the book, Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit, borrowed from the library. I know how to hatch and raise it."
"You put the egg in the fire, mimicking the mother's breath. After it hatches, feed it a bucket of brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour."
"This is a Norwegian Ridgeback, a very rare breed."
Hagrid gazed at the egg with affectionate eyes.
"Hagrid, you live in a wooden hut. And after it hatches, how will you make sure no one discovers it?" Hermione questioned.
But Hagrid, his eyes fixed on the hatching dragon egg, completely ignored Hermione's doubts.
Harry wanted to speak but hesitated. He had questions about the Philosopher's Stone, but with Ethan, a supporter of Snape, present, he didn't want him to know.
Ethan tactfully stood up. "Hagrid, it's too hot in here. I'll go outside to practice some spells and cool off."
Hermione also stood to follow Ethan out, but Harry tugged at her robes.
Ethan looked at Hermione, who was standing. "Coming with me?"
She bit her lip. "No, you go ahead. I'm going to get some water."
After Ethan left, Harry pressed his ear to the door, listening to his footsteps.
Harry stayed like that for a long time before turning around and nodding to confirm that Ethan had indeed walked far away.
"What do you want to ask that you needed Ethan to leave first?" Hagrid also sensed something was off.
Hermione said angrily, "About the Philosopher's Stone. They still think Snape is trying to steal it, and Ethan is learning potion-making from him."
Harry didn't want to dwell on this topic. He directly asked Hagrid, "We want to know if there are other safeguards protecting the Philosopher's Stone besides Fluffy."
"Though I don't think this is something you should know, many professors have cast protective spells."
"Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall, Professor Quirrell, including Professor Snape, have all placed protective measures on the Stone."
Hagrid counted on his fingers, then told them, "So your suspicion that Snape will steal the Philosopher's Stone is completely unfounded. He also helped protect it."
Harry and Ron exchanged glances and stopped asking questions. Hermione, however, felt guilty about Ethan.
Meanwhile, Ethan took this opportunity to cast his modified Thunderstorm Charm.
His modification made lightning strike only enemies, rather than spreading evenly across the entire cloud as it currently does.
The Room of Requirement's biggest flaw was that it couldn't produce living creatures. His spells could only be tested on dummies, never on animals.
Fang wasn't in the hut. It was too hot inside. This was perfect for having him chase out some animals.
"Fang, go into the Forbidden Forest and get some small live animals." He patted Fang's head.
Fang shot out.
This hound was submissive to magical creatures but was aggressive toward harmless animals like rabbits and squirrels.
Soon, Fang appeared before him, herding several wild rabbits.
"Good boy!" He rewarded him by scratching under his chin.
Watching the rabbits fleeing into the Forbidden Forest, he pointed his wand at the sky and cast, "Thunderstorm-creating Spell!"
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