Let's Raise Dragons

Snape, however, was apparently clever and suspicious, and by speaking to him directly, he might have aroused suspicion, so Ivan had to beat around the bush.

It was through his guidance that Harry and the others were able to guess, in a different way, and eventually reach Snape's ears, telling him to think for himself was the right way to deal with intelligent people.

Ivan had not expected things to go so smoothly. At first, he thought Snape's potion store would be full of booby traps, but there was nothing.

Yvonne understood when she thought about how Hermione was able to steal the potion ingredients for Polyjuice Potion from Snape in her second year in the book, but she decided to use a deodorant to get rid of her scent so that Snape would not be able to smell her.

Yvonne was thinking about it when Hermione grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her away.

"Hermione, where are you going?" Harry asked, confused.

Hermione looked back and forth. "To get to Hagrid, of course. Whether someone stole Snape's potion or Snape staged it, the easiest way to get past the three-headed dog Fluffy is to use Polyjuice Potion to turn into someone Hagrid knew and ask Hagrid directly!"

"So all we have to do is ask Hagrid if anyone's been asking him about it lately, and we'll know where to go next," Harry said excitedly.

"Clever!" Hermione nodded.

Ivan didn't have any objections. It would be good to go and see Hagrid now.

The trio soon arrived at Hagrid's cottage. Unlike usual, there was smoke coming out of the chimney above the fireplace, and Hermione and her party knocked on Hagrid's door.

Harry and Ron frowned uncomfortably, for it was too hot in there, and even if they needed a fire in the dead of winter, they didn't have to do this.

They had only been in the room for a minute, but beads of sweat were already forming on their foreheads. Yvonne was delighted and turned to look at the stove, which was burning brightly against the wall.

Or rather, looking at the large, dark egg in the middle of the fire…

"Come… have something to eat! Don't hold back." Hagrid enthusiastically brought a large bowl of rock cakes and some dried meat to place on the table. However, he sat down right in front of the fireplace, blocking Ivan's view.

Hermione and Harry also noticed that something was wrong with Hagrid, as he seemed more awkward than usual, wiping his sweat in the hot room rather than opening the window.

"Why are you making the house so hot, Hagrid?" Ron complained.

"It's nothing…it's been too cold lately," Hagrid explained with a smile, then quickly pushed the rock cakes and dried meat on the table towards them. "You've got classes this afternoon, right? Finish up and go home."

This made Hermione even more suspicious, but it was clear that she had more important things to attend to.

"Hagrid, we've come to ask you something. Snape's potion storeroom was stolen, and we suspect that the thief brewed Polyjuice Potion to disguise himself as someone you know to get to you and get information about Fluffy… so has anyone you don't know recently asked you for information about Norway?"

Hagrid was surprised to hear this, but he quickly recovered and muttered something under his breath.

"But no one else has ever asked that question."

Hagrid's expression hardened, and he cast a suspicious glance at them. Hermione's words had given him a warning, and he wondered if they were actually interested in Norway.

Suddenly, Hagrid looked around and saw that someone was missing…

"Eh? Where's Ivan?" Hagrid asked curiously.

Harry and the others were angry at Hagrid for suspecting them, but they soon realised that Ivan had disappeared.

While he was puzzling over this, he heard Ivan's voice behind Hagrid.

"Is this a dragon egg? It doesn't look very pretty."

With a start, Hagrid sprang to his feet and turned to look behind him, allowing Hermione and the others to see Ivan standing next to the boiler, as well as a large, dark egg the size of their heads.

"That's a dragon's egg! Hagrid, where did you get that? It must have cost you a fortune, didn't it?" Ron recognized it at once, and excitedly crowded over to Ivan's side, as Harry joined him to see the rare dragon's egg.

Hermione was the only one to notice the collection of books on the table, such as Breeding Dragons for Pleasure and Profit, The Twelve Ways to Keep Dragons, From Zero Basics to Master Dragon-Raising and so on.

Hagrid covered his face with his heavily callused hands, knowing that there would be no hiding it.

"Hagrid, it's against the law to keep dragons on your own. If anyone finds out, you'll end up in Azkaban," Hermione cautioned, despite her interest in dragon eggs.

"Don't worry, no one'll find out," Hagrid said, thumping his chest. "I've always wanted a dragon, and I know how to take care of them. I'll never go wrong."

Hermione, however, was worried, as a dragon was so big and so fast-growing that Hagrid's cabin would burst within a month.

Hermione turned anxiously to join Ivan in persuading Hagrid, but before she could speak, Ivan spoke excitedly.

"Can I take care of it with you when it hatches, Hagrid? I think it's a Norwegian Ridgeback."

Hagrid was also surprised that Ivan was able to tell the species of a dragon from a dragon's egg, as even he had to consult various books to find out that this was a Norwegian Ridgeback.

This means Ivan has a high level of dragon knowledge…

"Of course, as long as it doesn't get in the way of lessons, although I must warn you that it might be a bit difficult," Hagrid agreed with a nod, feeling as though he had found a soulmate in Ivan's eagerness.

Ivan knew about Hagrid's plans to raise a dragon, so he had read up on the subject beforehand, and had some knowledge of breeding, so the two of them immediately started discussing it as if no one else was around, leaving Harry, Ron, and Hermione alone…