Harry and Ron finally sent the letter. This brought a great sense of relief after their recent tension, and now all they had to do was wait for Charlie to arrive at Solitaire.
However, when Charlie's reply arrived, Ron made a careless mistake—he put the letter inside a book, which was later taken by Draco. Naturally, Draco now knew when they were planning to send the dragon away.
And once Draco knew, Solim would know too—although he already did—and Hermione and Neville, who were present at the time, also learned of the plan.
When Hermione and Neville returned to the Gryffindor common room that night, they told Harry and Ron what had happened. So now, both of them also knew that Malfoy knew. It was a bit confusing—people on both sides now knew what the other was planning.
A few students found an empty classroom, and Hermione scolded Ron. Compared to formidable enemies, careless teammates are often far more frustrating.
Initially, Harry and Ron had thought that even if Malfoy knew about the dragon, he wouldn't be able to catch them unless he knew the exact time. But because of Ron's carelessness, Malfoy now had that critical information.
Even if they wanted to change the time now, it was too late. Charlie and the people he had brought were likely already on their way.
"Solim is right! You two are mindless trolls!" Hermione said, her tone full of disgust.
Ron didn't respond this time. He knew his own mistake had complicated the situation.
"Hermione, it's too late for us to change our plans. We don't have time to send another owl to Charlie. This is probably our only chance to get rid of Norbert. We'll have to take a risk," Harry said quietly. "I have the invisibility cloak—it can hide us. Malfoy can't find us."
Hermione looked at him, then asked an unrelated question: "Do you know what Solim said about you after Malfoy discovered your plan?"
"Why should we care what the Slytherin snakes say?" Ron replied, clearly disapproving.
"'Stupid, arrogant, brainless.' That's how he judged you," Hermione said, glancing at Ron. "You and Ron's second brother agreed to meet at the top of the Astronomy Tower, right? That's where you're going to send the dragon, isn't it?"
Harry and Ron exchanged glances. "Yes, that's the plan, Hermione. I know you're worried about Malfoy, but I have the invisibility cloak—he doesn't know about it…"
Before Harry could finish, Hermione interrupted sharply.
"Idiot! Why are you bringing the dragon into the castle?!"
Fortunately, they were in an abandoned classroom, not the Gryffindor common room. Otherwise, the whole school would be talking about a dragon in Hogwarts by morning.
Seeing that the two hadn't grasped the situation, Hermione sighed helplessly. "Why not just tell Charlie to go directly to Hagrid and take the dragon away?"
This way, there would be no need to carry the dragon up to the Astronomy Tower. They wouldn't have to worry about bumping into a professor or Filch while wandering around the castle. It was a safe, simple solution.
Whether Harry and Ron didn't expect it or simply enjoyed the thrill, they preferred to complicate things.
"Maybe you just like to be involved? Or are you really out of your minds?" Hermione said, growing more annoyed.
"Have you thought about what would happen if you were caught in the castle with a dragon on a Saturday night?" She shook her head, feeling dizzy at the thought.
The two little wizards had spent the entire night wandering the castle with a dragon. If Dumbledore weren't headmaster, a mere probation would likely not have sufficed. A stricter headmaster might even have called the Ministry of Magic.
As for deducting points… well, there weren't enough points to matter.
Hagrid's hut was on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, quite far from the castle. There was no Filch or prowling professor around. But Harry and Ron chose to move the dragon into the castle, where dangers were plentiful, adding unnecessary risk.
They had to carry the dragon box to the top of the Astronomy Tower quietly, avoiding detection and returning safely. It was exhausting, complicated, and completely unnecessary. Just sending Charlie to Hagrid would have solved the problem immediately.
"But we already agreed with Charlie that we'll meet at the Astronomy Tower. It's too late to change the plan now," Harry said helplessly.
The method was simple, yet they had made it unnecessarily complicated. He felt foolish, and his voice grew quieter as he spoke.
Hermione closed her eyes, exasperated. "Don't tell me you have no brains. Why not at least tell Hagrid in advance that Charlie will come to him? Even if you can't contact Charlie to change the plan, you could meet him at the Astronomy Tower and redirect him to Hagrid. Problem solved."
"I've said everything I need to say. You figure it out," Hermione added, turning to leave.
Harry and Ron's approach was typical Gryffindor: whatever had to be done, they would do themselves. They craved adventure, excitement, and rarely considered the consequences. What they truly sought was the thrill of risk—the adrenaline, the racing heart—not necessarily the outcome.
Slytherins were different. They valued results above all. The process didn't matter as long as the goal was achieved. In dealing with Slytherins, Hermione secretly admired their rationality and objective thinking. Gryffindors, by contrast, were emotional and often made decisions based on subjective judgment.
Take the matter of the Sorcerer's Stone, for example. Anyone who had heard Solim's analysis could see that Snape was unlikely to steal it. Yet Harry and Ron insisted on their suspicion, convinced of it until they saw the truth themselves.
Gryffindors could be stubborn to a fault. Their determination was admirable if they were headed in the right direction, but if not, it could lead them straight into disaster.
Despite Hermione's scolding, Harry and Ron now understood how to handle the dragon situation more safely. Harry thought to himself: if Hermione had been involved from the beginning, the situation would have been much easier. She was far smarter and more strategic than he and Ron.
If Hermione had helped, everything could have been resolved quickly and efficiently. So why hadn't she been involved? Harry looked at Ron.
"I think you should apologize to Hermione," Harry whispered. "About last time."
Hermione had intentionally kept her distance from Ron because of a previous incident—he had been hurtful, and they hadn't thanked her for her help.
"Me? Apologize?" Ron paused, then said, "Okay, I'll apologize."
The two caught up to Hermione just as she was leaving.
"So, you're apologizing?" Hermione asked, though she sensed little sincerity from Ron—it seemed more out of obligation than genuine remorse.
Still, she didn't want the tension to linger, so she accepted their apology.
Harry and Ron's Gryffindor approach was adventurous, reckless, and often illogical. They sought excitement and the adrenaline of risk, while Slytherins preferred calculation and careful planning. Hermione's rationality would have made everything simpler, but Gryffindors rarely thought to involve others—they valued personal effort and the thrill of danger.
Harry realized that Hermione's presence would have prevented much of the chaos. He respected her intelligence and knew that if she had guided them, their plan would have been safer and more efficient.
And yet, despite her exhaustion and frustration, Hermione had not turned her back entirely. She had set boundaries, but she remained willing to assist when necessary. Harry silently appreciated this balance.
The night would be long, filled with cautious maneuvers and careful steps, but with the invisibility cloak and their determination, Harry and Ron were ready to see the plan through. The dragon would be sent safely, and lessons about recklessness and planning would linger in their minds for a long time.
Gryffindor courage, adrenaline, and stubbornness—paired with Hermione's logic—were a recipe for both chaos and success. As Harry watched Hermione walk away, he resolved to be more thoughtful in the future, to recognize the value of strategy, and, when needed, to lean on the guidance of those wiser than himself.
Ron, meanwhile, grumbled quietly but accepted the lesson in his own way. Gryffindor hearts were not easily changed, but sometimes, they learned—albeit reluctantly.
By the time the night concluded, the dragon would be gone, the castle would remain intact, and Harry and Ron would have faced yet another adventure that tested their courage, their brains, and their bonds with friends.
Lessons were learned, and while they might not admit it openly, the chaos of the night would leave them better prepared for future challenges—and perhaps a little more appreciative of Hermione's steady mind.
FOR MORE CHAPTERS
patreon.com/Johnybairstow