To enter the Forbidden Forest the usual way, you had to go through Hagrid's checkpoint.
In other words, no one else was likely to appear along that path.
So, as Draco and the others made their way toward the forest, they didn't bother using the Disillusionment Charm.
Three wizards and a dragon—it was the kind of odd combination that would turn heads.
To the uninformed, it might've looked like they were simply out walking a dragon.
And leading this strange little crew, quite unmistakably, was the small wizard walking at the front...
...
Sensing a bit of unease, Hermione decided she needed to know where Draco's confidence was coming from.
"So, are you finally going to tell us what your plan is?"
She jogged up beside him, hands tucked awkwardly behind her back as she leaned in slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of his profile.
Her hesitant curiosity made Draco blink, puzzled.
Not because she'd asked—but because the way she was acting around him had clearly become more casual.
She'd never gotten this close to him before...
Come to think of it, Hermione's attitude toward him had softened noticeably. The misunderstandings between them seemed to be clearing up. But were they friends yet? Not quite. Something still felt like it was missing.
"Did I... do something special or something?"
Draco, who was far from adept at reading a girl's mind, thought about it for a few seconds...
But this wasn't the time to be figuring that out.
"Draco?"
"First, Hagrid—I need you to inform the centaurs. Let them know the Forbidden Forest is about to get a new resident."
"I can do that, sure. But I doubt they'll accept it..."
"No, I don't need their permission. I just want them to know it's happening."
Hagrid opened his mouth, let out a long sigh, and said nothing.
That familiar bossy tone made Hermione roll her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. Still, she was worried—was Draco really not concerned about provoking the centaurs?
"Aren't you afraid they'll go tell Dumbledore? Or another professor?"
"That's because you don't understand centaurs. They don't like wizards—any of us. Not even Dumbledore. They might respect him, maybe even fear him, but they won't willingly approach him."
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah. The one that helped us before? He was an exception. Right, Hagrid?"
It was Hermione's first time hearing something like this. She turned curiously toward Hagrid, who still looked conflicted—clearly still hung up on Draco's decision to enter the Forbidden Forest.
"Yeah… I didn't expect Draco to know that much about centaurs. Fierce really is different from the others."
Hagrid, once again mispronouncing the centaur's name, still confirmed Draco's assessment.
In truth, if Hagrid didn't have giant blood in him, the centaurs probably wouldn't even speak to him, even as the gamekeeper...
Draco might have sounded casual, but the truth was he had done a lot of research into centaurs—these magical creatures with sharp minds—and had taken the time to study how they might react.
"They only care about things related to the moon."
That one sentence just about summed them up.
As long as it doesn't interfere with their lives, even the end of the world wouldn't faze them—that's just how centaurs are...
After hearing Draco's explanation, Hermione felt the plan might actually be solid.
As long as they handled the centaurs—who possessed considerable intelligence—none of the other magical creatures would be able to stop Norberta from settling in.
And honestly, who would be foolish enough to pick a fight with a dragon capable of such terrifying destruction?
"So that means... no wizard will know Norberta's living in the Forbidden Forest~"
"Heh."
"Mhm."
"..."
Feeling thoroughly mocked by both Draco and a dragon, Hermione's eye twitched. Then she clenched her fists, her glare practically radiating dark energy as she locked eyes on Draco.
"What's that supposed to mean!?"
"I don't believe Dumbledore is all-knowing... but you really think he doesn't know about Norberta?"
That caught both Hermione and Hagrid off guard.
"He doesn't?"
"If he did, why hasn't he stopped us?"
Draco didn't respond right away. He came to a halt, eyes fixed on the Forbidden Forest now visible ahead.
"Because of the rules."
"Rules?"
"As long as we stay within the rules, the Headmaster of Hogwarts will turn a blind eye."
"No way..."
"Otherwise, how do you explain the red-haired twins always sneaking around the castle at night and never getting punished? It's not that Dumbledore doesn't know—it's that they've never been caught."
What Draco didn't mention was that Dumbledore probably knew Hermione had once stumbled into the room guarded by the three-headed dog.
But judging by the look on Hagrid's face, Draco decided not to push it.
Even so, it was enough to make Hermione seriously reconsider things.
"Anyway, that's enough talking."
Draco turned away from Hermione's conflicted expression and slowly pulled out his wand.
"You've been waiting a long time, haven't you, Norberta?"
"Grrhh!"
Norberta, lowering her head and crouching in front of Draco, let out a low growl of excitement. Sparks danced in the air, flickering with her anticipation.
"Alright then…"
Swish—
The sound of fabric brushing as Draco vaulted up.
Whoosh—
Wings unfurled, kicking up a cloud of dust and pebbles.
"Rooooar!"
Norberta let out a mighty dragon's roar, flames erupting from her jaws and painting the sky red.
Draco didn't stop her—he knew how long she'd been holding herself back. Instead, he straightened up atop her back in perfect sync.
Heat surged. Blinding fire lit the sky.
Hermione stared at the scene in awe, completely speechless. It was something out of a fantasy movie or storybook.
A dragon—and her knight...