Chapter 23: Norbert the Dragon

"I told you, professors are all personally selected by Deng Buliduo, it's impossible for anyone to want to steal that thing!" Before reaching the door, Harry heard Hagrid's loud voice that was almost roaring.

He and Luo En hid by the window and eavesdropped on the conversation inside.

"On Halloween night, Snape discovered Quirrell, and he also acquiesced to my investigation..." Harry could distinguish that this was Neville's voice.

"First of all, no one can pass Fluffy, I have never told anyone any information," Hagrid said confidently.

"But for professors, they don't need you to tell them Fluffy's weakness," a female voice, a bit like Hermione, "Snape can configure the Draught of Living Death, or other more powerful potions, to make Fluffy sleep."

"That's useless, other professors also set up other traps, the whole Hogwarts is protecting that thing," Hagrid's voice was not as confident as it was at the beginning.

"This is what we are worried about," Neville said. "Just now when we came from the stadium, we heard the conversation between Snape and Quirrell, they seem to be joining forces."

"No, you don't understand how much Deng Buliduo trusts Professor Snape, and Deng Buliduo is always right," Hagrid said.

"Then what about Voldemort?" Neville said the name that made people fear again, "Deng Buliduo was teaching Transfiguration when Voldemort was in school, right? He is not omniscient and omnipotent, he will also be deceived—"

"This is different!" Hagrid roared and interrupted him, "If Snape joins forces with Quirrell, then they must be joining forces to protect that thing. They must have discovered some clues, there are bad guys wanting to sneak into the school, it must be!"

"Just like Hermione said," Neville repeated again, "Quirrell asked Snape how to pass the three-headed dog, Snape said he could configure the Draught of Living Death. Then Quirrell asked him if he knew what traps other professors had set, Snape said he didn't know."

"Quirrell also threatened him," another female voice Harry didn't know added, "He said, 'You wouldn't be planning to be my enemy, would you.' I am sure they have studied those traps quite thoroughly, at least they have cracked more than half."

"I told you..." Hagrid almost couldn't help but roar again.

"Calm down, Hagrid, calm down," Neville's voice came, "We are not planning anything, just hoping you can help notify Deng Buliduo. We almost never see him, and in this matter, I think you are the most trustworthy one."

"I don't want to go to Deng Buliduo and say bad things about others, even if it's Quirrell and Snape who are not likable," Hagrid was still angry, but the significantly reduced volume showed that he might have really calmed down a bit.

"You just say it as it is, it's a bold speculation made by a few students because of irresponsible imagination," Hermione almost begged, "Just tell him that, I believe with Deng Buliduo's wisdom, even if he pays a little more attention, it's enough to make us feel at ease."

"Alright, alright, I will tell him," Hagrid said. "Just treat it as solving some boring troubles for you."

"Thank you, Hagrid, then we will say goodbye."

Harry and Luo En hurriedly hid on the other side of the house, but didn't expect that someone was already hiding there. The three looked at each other, but all very intelligently didn't make a sound.

After Neville left, Harry took a curious look and found that the one who came with him was Hermione and Hannah.

"Why are you hiding here, Draco?" Harry saw Luo En's vigilant face and decided to grasp the rhythm of the conversation himself.

"I was originally following you," Ma Erfu seemed a bit nervous, "I heard you say you were going to try out for Quidditch next year, so I thought, um, see what you came here for."

"As you can see, I came to chat and have afternoon tea with this alcoholic servant living by the grounds," Harry teased. "For Sir Ma Erfu, this kind of thing might not be appropriate, let the Potterer do it himself."

"So that's it," Ma Erfu's face didn't look good either. "What I want to tell you is that I will also try out for Seeker next year, this is what I was originally going to say."

"Suit yourself," Harry shrugged. "We can both try, maybe we can meet on the field."

"I will defeat you, only I can defeat Harry Potter," Ma Erfu said.

"Of course, things Voldemort can't do, Ma Erfu can do," Harry said indifferently, then left Ma Erfu, who was changing faces on the spot, and walked into Hagrid's hut on his own.

As soon as Harry entered the door, he found that it was unbearably hot here. No wonder Neville didn't chat much after finishing the business.

There was a fire in the stove, and in the center of the fire, there was something. Although Hagrid tried to cover it up by putting the kettle on the stove, Harry recognized at a glance that it was a black egg.

"What is this? An egg?" Harry asked curiously.

"Ah!" Hagrid nervously fiddled with his beard, "That is, that is—"

"Dragon egg? Cool! Where did you get it?" Luo En squatted by the fire and said excitedly.

"Bought it," Hagrid said honestly. "Last night, I went to the village to drink, and happened to meet someone selling it."

"He said it was smuggled, I know this is wrong, but, I really," Hagrid said embarrassedly, "I really dream of raising a dragon of my own."

"Then after it hatches, you plan to raise it?" Harry asked.

"Yes, I borrowed some books, oh Peishu, let me pass," he said while pulling a book from under a small gray tabby cat, "You see, 'Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit,' oh no, it's this one..."

"This little cat is really cute, I've never seen him," just as Hagrid went back to flip through the book, Harry was looking at the little cat.

"It's a gift," Hagrid said. "That person said it's not convenient to run away with a cat, so he gave it to me together. He said his name is Peishu."

"Hello, Peishu," Harry was clearly more interested in the cat.

"I originally thought I could find a companion for Fang," Hagrid's tone was a bit frustrated, "but this little naughty ghost is too naughty, Fang is even afraid of him."

"Really?" Peishu made a purring sound in Harry's arms, "I think he's quite well-behaved."

"What I'm thinking is, if you just raise the dragon in the hut like this," Luo En said, "it might be illegal, especially since this dragon is smuggled. You don't want to go to Azkaban, right?"

"You wouldn't be thinking of," Hagrid said anxiously, "Please, don't tell anyone."

"Of course we won't tell anyone, Deng Buliduo won't notice for a while," Harry said. "But I believe he is not old enough to not see a dragon in the school."

"Yeah, Norbert will grow up," Hagrid also looked at the dragon egg with worry, "But I still have to hatch him first."

"In that case, please be sure to invite us to watch when he breaks the shell," Luo En was still curious about the dragon egg if he didn't think about practical problems, "How many times in a person's life can you watch a dragon break out of the shell with your own eyes?"

"Of course, of course," Hagrid sent the charcoal lightly, not raising his head.

When leaving the door, Harry found that Peishu was still clinging to the hem of his robe, so he had to bend down and pick it up again.

"I'm leaving, little darling," Harry placed it gently on Hagrid's table, but in the blink of an eye, it jumped onto Harry's shoulder again.

"Let him be with you for a while," Hagrid said with a smile, "Peishu seems to like you very much."

"Is this okay?" Harry also liked this cute little tabby cat very much.

"Of course, the school originally allows students to keep cats," Hagrid said. "Just let Fang take a breather."

Harry brought Peishu back to the dormitory. This little cat was unexpectedly clingy, almost clinging to Harry at any time, and he was also very sensible. If Harry was going to class, then as long as he hugged him down three times, Peishu would jump onto the bed and sleep by himself.

On Monday night, Harry finished dinner and returned to the dormitory to get his textbooks. Peishu jumped onto him again. Harry didn't know if the library allowed cats to be brought in, but he looked at Peishu's watery big eyes, thought about it, and hid him in the robe on his chest, then pretended to hold the books and went out.

Arriving at the library, Zhang Qiu happened to be there, and she looked in a good mood. Harry said mysteriously, "Guess what I brought?"

As he said this, he gently untied the robe on his chest. Suddenly, a small gray head poked out from the collar and began to look around curiously.

"What a cute little guy," Zhang Qiu said. "Let me hold him."

"By the way, Hagrid got a dragon egg," Harry said. "Maybe it will hatch in these few days, it should be in these few days."

"Hmm, I saw it."

"You've been to Hagrid's hut too?"

"That's not it," Zhang Qiu pointed to the bookshelf on the left, "I saw him borrow a pile of books about dragon breeding here, I guess he must have gotten a dragon."

"That's right, but it's a pity that this dragon might not be able to stay here for long," Harry said. "Luo En told me that private dragon breeding is illegal."

"But private investment in dragon farms is allowed," Zhang Qiu sighed. "This is a capitalist society after all."

Harry hadn't heard this word for a long time, and he said excitedly: "Hey, you know this too? I mean, can I call you comrade?"

"Of course, my dear Davarish," Zhang Qiu said with a smile, "China is also part of the Communist International." ===== CHAPTER 24 =====

Harry hadn't heard this term in a long time. He said excitedly, "Hey, you know this too? I mean, can I call you Comrade?"

"Of course, my dear Tovarishch," Zhang Qiu said with a smile. "The Celestial Empire is also a part of the Communist International."