The group reached the perimeter of Hagrid's hut in high spirits, but their mood was instantly dampened by the scene awaiting them outside.
Standing against the rustic, drab backdrop of the hut was a squat, toad-like monstrosity clad in shocking pink tweed her name, Dolores Umbridge.
She was currently engaged in conversation with Draco Malfoy, while Albus Dumbledore stood silently by her side with an unreadable expression.
"Ah, Mr. Malfoy," Umbridge said, a sugary smile instantly stretching across her wide, flabby features. "Always so dedicated to punctuality and good form. It is truly heartening to see you."
It seemed Draco had intercepted the undersecretary just as she was making her approach to the gamekeeper's home.
"A pleasure, Madam Undersecretary. And good evening, Headmaster. May I ask the purpose of your visit to the grounds?" Draco asked, his voice smooth, carrying the polite, aristocratic lilt of the noble he was.
"Draco, dear boy," Dumbledore started explaining, his tone betraying a hint of helplessness. "Madam Undersecretary wished to have a meeting with your Care of Magical Creatures teacher regarding the recent article published about him."
Dumbledore gestured slightly to the parchment Umbridge was clutching, containing a Ministry-stamped and approved order of inspection.
By this point, Aaric and his group had reached the gathering. They exchanged polite, if stiff, greetings with the Headmaster and the pink-clad woman.
"It seems to be my lucky day," Umbridge croaked with a sickeningly sweet giggle, preening as she looked between the students. "Two Triwizard Champions and the heirs of Ancient and Noble Houses, all here to greet me just as I have arrive to carry out my duties."
She clearly believed her own importance to be the gravitational center of the world. Aaric caught Ron's eye and gave a subtle, sharp signal, warning the redhead to swallow whatever retort was bubbling in his throat.
"I wished to ask, Madam," Draco interjected, skillfully steering the conversation back to the matter at hand. "What urgent business does the Undersecretary have with Professor Hagrid at this hour?"
"I just wish to ensure the safety of you children," Umbridge replied, tilting her head with a feigned maternal affection that made her look more like a predatory toad than a protector. "You are the future of magical Britain, after all. It is the Ministry's highest priority."
The students barely kept themselves from gagging openly, forcing plastered, strained smiles onto their faces.
"There is no need to trouble yourself, Madam. I assure you, we are completely safe," Draco said, waving a hand dismissively as if to imply that a woman of her stature shouldn't be dirtying her boots with such trivialities.
"Thank you for your concern, sweet child," Umbridge giggled, her shoulders shaking with the motion.
Ron slapped a hand over his mouth and tilted his head toward the sky, physically fighting the urge to vomit on the spot.
"But you see, it is my sworn duty to do so," she added, her voice hardening slightly with resolve as she patted Draco's elbow. She attempted to step past the blockade of students, giving them a final nod.
"He is not a danger to anyone, Madam," Draco stated firmly, stepping into her path once more.
Umbridge stopped dead in her tracks. She turned slowly, giving Draco a look of genuine confusion.
She had firmly believed that the Malfoy heir was her ally and a staunch traditionalist who would welcome any effort to undermine Dumbledore by removing his "half-breed" cronies from the faculty.
Sensing her suspicion, Draco offered a tight, conspiratorial smile and signaled for her to step a few paces away for a private word.
Umbridge narrowed her eyes, then nodded, moving out of earshot of the Headmaster and the other students.
"It is under control, Madam," Draco whispered cryptically, leaning in close.
"What do you mean, 'under control'?" Umbridge whispered back, her brow furrowed.
"I mean precisely that," Draco murmured, his voice dropping to a silken, manipulative whisper. "He has his uses... for now."
Umbridge stared at him for a long moment, her mind racing to fill in the blanks. She believed she understood where Draco and Lucius stood.
She assumed they shared her allegiances, even if they played a more subtle game.
"I cannot simply leave now, Mr. Malfoy," she whispered, glancing back at the hut. "I have papers to serve."
"I understand," Draco countered swiftly. "Talk to him. Conduct your inspection. But conclude that he is not a threat to the students. If you clear him, you look benevolent and thorough."
He gave a dark, dismissive scoff. "Don't worry. He will have his time, Madam. I assure you. Him and his kind."
Umbridge considered this, her eyes gleaming with the appreciation of a fellow schemer.
The logic appealed to her desire for a long, drawn-out victory rather than a messy, immediate skirmish.
She wanted to be let in on what the Manlfoys were planning, but she knew now was not the time to ask for finer details.
She plastered the sugary smile back onto her face and nodded.
"Very well," she murmured, and without another word to him, she turned and walked toward Hagrid's hut.
Draco walked back to Aaric's group, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he gave them a reassuring nod.
"It will be fine," he told them quietly as Umbridge produced a bottle of perfume, spraying the air around the hut liberally before knocking. "Hagrid will just have to endure her presence for a short while."
"Better than the alternative," Aaric noted.
"Indeed," Draco grimaced, glancing once more at Dumbledore before turning away.
Dumbledore, catching the eye of the Slytherin student, offered a gentle, appreciative pat on Draco's shoulder as he passed. The Headmaster then moved to join Umbridge just as the door swung open, revealing a confused Hagrid.
"I guess we will have to chat with him later," Hermione muttered.
Realizing they could do nothing more, the group turned back toward the castle, parting ways in the Entrance Hall to return to their respective dormitories.
Draco's intervention turned out to be an unexpected boon.
The very next day, the Daily Prophet ran a short piece by Dolores Umbridge herself.
It stated that the High Inquisitor had personally visited Rubeus Hagrid to investigate the claims of danger and had found him to be harmless, ensuring the parents of Hogwarts that their children were safe.
This official Ministry clearance significantly blunted the backlash from Rita Skeeter's hit piece, and Hagrid's reputation began to recover almost immediately.
"That was surprisingly good thinking on your part," Ron complimented Draco as he scanned the article in the Daily Prophet.
The trio, Aaric's group, and Draco were lounging together by the edge of the Black Lake, enjoying a moment of peace.
"I am surprised you can read, Weasley," Draco drawled with a shrug, though he didn't look up from skimming stones across the water. He clearly didn't appreciate the backhanded nature of the compliment.
Ron's ears turned pink, and he opened his mouth to retort, but he was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a paper bird.
The origami creation fluttered down from the sky, chirping melodically as it hovered in front of the group before darting toward Aaric.
As soon as it touched Aaric's hand, it unfolded into a letter.
Aaric scanned the parchment quickly, a warm smile breaking across his face.
"I have somewhere to be, guys. See ya," Aaric announced suddenly, standing up and dusting off his robes.
He signaled for the girls to follow. Daphne, Luna, and Fleur bid their own farewells to the confused Gryffindors and Slytherin before hurrying after him.
"What is it?" Fleur asked as they navigated the shifting staircases toward the Ravenclaw tower.
"A letter from Mum," Aaric explained, stopping in front of an unassuming classroom door in a quiet corridor.
Aaric had anchored a spatial link, changing the location on the other side of the door with a touch.
He opened the door, revealing not a dusty classroom, but the grand, warm interior of the Hawthorne family mansion.
He stepped through the portal, the girls following close behind.
On the other side sat Edwina and Simon. They were positioned comfortably by the hearth, where a roaring magical fire was lit.
"Come, loves," Edwina called out, standing to greet them. She kissed Aaric's cheeks warmly and welcomed the girls with a radiant smile, inviting them to sit on the couches beside her.
Simon greeted Aaric with a pat on the head. He smiled at Daphne and Luna, then tilted his head slightly when he noticed Fleur, who was a new addition to the group.
After a brief pause, he just shrugged good-naturedly and offered her an approving, welcoming smile as well.
"Is that... molten gold?" Daphne asked, her eyes fixed on the hearth.
Hovering directly in the center of the magical fire was a large, metallic egg. It was surrounded by a sphere of liquid gold that orbited it like a protective fluid, defying gravity.
"It is good for his development," Aaric explained, taking a seat on the rug. "The metal reinforces his scales before he even breaches the shell."
Daphne nodded, fascinated.
The next moment, a concentrated stream of white-hot magical fire shot out from within the egg, piercing the shell and creating a jagged opening. The liquid gold hissed and was absorbed into the cracks.
The egg shuddered. A metallic ticking sound, like clockwork gears grinding against stone, echoed from within. Then, the snout of a creature pushed through the opening.
"Go on, dear. You should be the first person he sees," Edwina instructed softly. "It will help with the imprinting process."
Aaric moved closer, sitting directly in front of the hearth as he witnessed the little creature being born.
The creature struggled free, tumbling onto the warm hearthstones. It was a dragon, but unlike any common breed.
Its scales were a bright yellow and its eyes were like molten gold. It made a sharp, chirping sound, locking eyes with Aaric immediately.
"A demi-god?" Luna asked from the side, tilting her head.
"Yes," Aaric confirmed, reaching out his hand. "You remember the seeds I retrieved from the Gold Dragon's lands?" he asked.
The little dragon leaned into Aaric's touch, nuzzling his palm and purring with happiness.
Luna hummed with a knowing smile, her fingers absentmindedly caressing the golden locket on her neck, the one Aaric had crafted for her from the scale of the gold dragon.
A/n: Give me your thought on the chapter and reviews on the fic.
And.. you got any power stones? Well, hand em over then..