"Expelliarmus!"
Neville shouted, and Hermione's magic wand flew out of her hand, landing on a nearby cushion.
"I did it!" Hermione exclaimed happily, not bothering to pick up her wand, and rushed over to give Neville a hug.
"Well done, Neville!" Theo clapped enthusiastically, then helped Hermione pick up her magic wand and handed it back to her.
Neville finally smiled and said happily, "I tried it at home, and my grandma was delighted. She said my father couldn't do the Disarming Spell in his first year either!"
"Is this a new magic wand?" Michael asked, examining Neville's wand.
"Yes." Neville showed off his new companion to everyone: "Cherry wood, unicorn tail hair. Mr. Olivander said it's perfect for me."
The first time they were chosen by a magic wand, that feeling of finding their other half left an indelible memory for each young wizard. They each touched Neville's wand and assured him that he would indeed become a great master of magic spells.
As they were chatting and laughing, the door of the Umbrella House slid open. Neville turned around to see Harry walking in with a frown, and shouted warmly, "Harry, you came too!"
"Hello, Neville." Harry said hurriedly. "Oh, Hermione—great, you're here too! Michael, do you know where Vid is?"
"He went to the library to borrow a book, he should be here soon—do you need him for something?" Michael said.
"—It's Hagrid." Harry said. "He asked me to invite Hermione, Neville, and Vid to his hut for a visit."
——The gamekeeper? That big guy…
Michael raised an eyebrow slightly.
Hogwarts students often saw Hagrid's little hut across the lawn, but few dared to go near it. Because in the eyes of the students, the unusually giant Rubeus Hagrid looked very intimidating. Some students even considered him just a servant of the castle and didn't know his name.
More often, the gamekeeper's name was linked with the Weasley Twins, as it was often said that those two were caught by him sneaking out of the Forbidden Forest.
Who'd have thought Harry had a good relationship with him—so why did he invite Vid?
As they spoke, Vid came in holding a book. After hearing Hagrid's invitation, he put down his book, and the group went together to Hagrid's hut.
On the way, Harry told them, "Hagrid said—baby dragon is about to hatch, and he wants us to witness it. After all... not many people get to see a fire dragon hatch... right?"
Under Hermione's incredulous gaze, Harry's voice grew quieter.
"Unbelievable—he knows he's raising a fire dragon!" Hermione said angrily. "And he lives in a wooden house!"
"Don't—Hermione—" Harry whispered, "at least don't argue today—Hagrid is really looking forward to this—"
Hermione pursed her lips tightly and reluctantly nodded.
They reached the door of the hut, and Harry stepped up to knock. When Hagrid opened the door, he looked very pleased.
"Hurry, you're just in time!" Hagrid said excitedly, "The baby is about to come out!"
Harry stepped inside, and his steps suddenly stalled.
Ron was also sitting in the hut, turning his head to look at them and then quickly looking away, staring intensely at the dragon egg as if studying its patterns.
Hermione glanced from one person to another, feeling a bit at a loss.
"Come in, don't just stand there."
Hagrid seemed completely unaware of the subtle atmosphere between them. With a sweep of his big hand, he ushered both of them into the hut. He then bent down to talk to Vid, "I'm glad you could come too, Vid. Not many people get to see a baby dragon hatch, I bet you're interested, aren't you?"
"Of course, thank you for the invitation, Hagrid." Vid smiled, saying. He walked in, ignoring the awkward looks from the trio, and sat down on an empty chair, watching the "crack-crack" sound coming from the dragon egg on the table with great interest.
——It's a dragon after all!
Even though it's only a Western lizard dragon, who wouldn't want to see it!
As Vid sat down, he thought he spotted something peculiar. He looked up to see a bunch of long, soft white hair hanging from the ceiling, grouped with a few copper pots, like some sort of indigenous decoration.
In Hagrid's chaotic little hut, the white hair had an impressive, holy brightness.
Hermione, eager to start a conversation, immediately asked, "What animal's hair is that, Hagrid?"
"Oh, those are unicorn tail hairs, pulled out when they get caught on the branches in the forest." Hagrid hadn't considered it much, but seeing Vid was also looking, he said, "Oh, Vid, you're studying alchemy, right? Take them if you need—they're yours."
He generously pulled down a large handful and thrust it towards Vid.
Vid declined, "That's too valuable, Hagrid! A complete unicorn tail hair can go for 10 Galleons."
Ron, who had been sitting with a stern face, nearly fell off his chair. He looked at the white hair, which he originally thought was a horse's tail, with wide eyes.
The Weasley family had seven children and lived very frugally. When Ron started school, he had nothing new—wearing hand-me-down robes from his brothers, with a second-hand wand and used textbooks, even his pet was an aging rat his brother didn't want.
In his whole life, Ron had never collected more than one Galleon in pocket money.
"It's no big deal," Hagrid shook his head, indifferent, "I often find them in the forest—"
He forcefully handed the bunch of unicorn tail hair to Vid.
Hagrid's thoughts were simple—on the night the Potters died, it was Hagrid who carried baby Harry from the ruins, feeling an unusual sense of responsibility for the small, fragile life. Later, when Harry turned eleven, Hagrid personally brought him into the wizarding world.
Hagrid viewed Harry almost like a parent would their child. After learning that Harry was well taken care of by Vid at school, picking up many useful spells, Hagrid had long considered how to repay the favor on behalf of Harry's parents. So when he saw Vid's interest in the unicorn tail hair, it was only natural for him to give it delightedly.
Though Hagrid himself might not clearly express his mixed feelings, Vid sensed some of it. He glanced at the clueless Harry and accepted the gesture.
——It doesn't matter how expensive the gift is, there's always a time for reciprocation.
"Look, it's coming out!" Hermione suddenly exclaimed.
The egg cracked open, a white snout peeked out, and the black baby dragon struggled to squeeze out, its spine-ridged wings "thud" onto the table, and a few sparks puffed from its nostrils.