Chapter 38: A Dragon's Shadow
The resolution of the toad affair had lifted a weight from Solim's mind. With Evans's intentions clarified, he no longer had to worry about a hidden enemy. However, this did not mean all his puzzles were solved. He still hadn't forgotten the bizarre, ink-blot representation of his name on the Marauder's Map. He had been pondering it for weeks.
Why couldn't his name be displayed properly? He had confirmed with Elrond over the Christmas holidays that his name carried no obfuscation charms or curses. Yet, the map failed to render it. There had to be a reason. If a name was concealed by magic, it simply wouldn't appear. But his manifested as a smudge, which was deeply puzzling. Everything had a cause, and Solim was determined to find his.
This, however, was no simple task. Unraveling the secrets bound to a name went far beyond mere book learning. For now, he set it aside; the immediate impact on his life was minimal.
As the end of the school year approached, a wave of anxiety swept through the first-year students. Final exams were looming. Even Hermione, usually a bastion of calm, had drafted an exhaustive revision schedule for herself and Neville. Their spell practice in the disused classroom had dwindled, replaced by frantic essay-writing and memorization. In Hermione's view, neglecting revision for any reason was an unforgivable sin.
Today, however, she had come to the classroom alone, knowing Solim often retreated here when Slytherin had no classes.
"Hermione? Shouldn't you be in the library?" Solim looked up from his notes.
"I found something out," she said, settling into the chair opposite him, her expression troubled.
Solim waited silently for her to continue.
"I saw Ron today. His hand was badly hurt, all swollen. They've been visiting Hagrid constantly lately," she reported, her voice laced with concern.
"Why do you care?" Solim asked, his tone flat. "If they insist on courting trouble, they must bear the consequences." He knew exactly what had happened to Ron's hand—a bite from a newly-hatched Norwegian Ridgeback—but he felt no inclination to intervene.
"If you truly want to help them, you can't force it. They have to come to you. Remember what happened last time." Rushing to their aid unasked was a fool's errand. Hermione's previous offers of help had been met with nothing but scorn.
He was still speaking when the classroom door burst open and Draco Malfoy strode in, his face alight with triumph.
"Solim! You'll never guess what I've discovered!" he crowed. "They're raising a dragon! I'm going to report them! Potter and Weasley are definitely getting expelled! And that oaf, Hagrid, too!"
Solim fixed him with a steady gaze. "Calm down. Explain properly. What is going on?"
After catching his breath, Draco launched into his tale. Like Hermione, he had noticed Potter and Weasley's suspicious behavior. His innate dislike for both boys had prompted him to follow them, leading to a stunning discovery: Hagrid was illegally harboring a dragon egg, which had now hatched.
Private dragon breeding had been banned in the wizarding world since the 17th century. The trafficking, breeding, and hatching of dragons without authorization was a serious crime. An uncontrolled dragon posed an existential threat to the Statute of Secrecy. The catastrophic consequences of a dragon appearing in a Muggle area were unimaginable, triggering a chain reaction that would paralyze the Ministry of Magic. The Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, the Beast Division, the Department of International Magical Cooperation, and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement would all be thrown into chaos. The perpetrator of such a disaster would face a one-way ticket to Azkaban.
If Hagrid were proven to be illegally raising a dragon, his fate would be sealed. Even without a catastrophe, he would face years in prison and a crushing fine.
Draco was practically vibrating with excitement. Solim was certain that if the boy tried to cast a Patronus now, it would surely succeed.
In stark contrast, Hermione had gone pale. She understood the gravity of the situation. If Draco reported this, Hagrid's life would be ruined.
"Potter and that Weasel are finished this time!" Draco grinned, savouring the thought.
"Oh? Are you certain?" Solim's quiet voice cut through Draco's glee. "Do you truly believe those two have the means to acquire a dragon egg, let alone the knowledge to hatch it?"
The true culprit was whoever possessed the egg. Dragon eggs were Class-A Non-Tradeable Materials; private ownership was illegal, regardless of the circumstances.
Draco's triumphant expression faltered as Solim's logic sank in. He had been carried away by the initial thrill of discovery. Now, he had to admit that even if Potter and Weasley were implicated as accomplices, the Ministry was unlikely to expel them. And he was acutely aware that Dumbledore would never allow it. The Headmaster was the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot—the equivalent of a Supreme Court Justice. With his influence, any trial would likely result in a severely mitigated sentence for the students, with Hagrid bearing the brunt of the punishment.
Hermione wrestled with her conscience for a long moment. While her feelings for Ron were frayed and her relationship with Harry was now distant, she couldn't stand by and watch them walk into such a disaster.
"Solim... Draco..." she began, her voice small. She clenched her fists on her knees. "I know you don't like Harry and Ron. But... please, could you let this go? They're in enough trouble as it is."