https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-453-The-Forbidden-Forest-Expedition/13685510/
Chapter 454: Fire Dragon and Pup Wolf
“Oh… Merlin,” Michael couldn’t help but whisper, a flicker of unease crossing his face.
After pushing through the dense forest, the group finally came upon the massive creature.
The Norwegian Ridgeback Dragon—fully mature—loomed ahead, its body powerful and imposing, muscles rippling beneath thick, obsidian-black scales that seemed to blend perfectly into the surrounding darkness. It had reduced an area the size of a small square to blackened ash, the ground barren, every rock streaked with char marks and claw gouges.
Fifty meters ahead, a dark cave yawned open. The rocky walls flanking the entrance were scarred with deep scratches and rub marks—like ancient, unreadable runes etched by fire and fury.
At the mouth of the cave, the giant Fire Dragon had tossed a large fish onto the ground, then roasted it with a blast of flame until it was half-charred. Now, it devoured the meat in savage, wolf-like bites, jaws snapping open to reveal rows of venomous fangs—horrifying, even from a distance.
“That thing weighs at least five tons,” Padma whispered, shivering. “Are we… really safe standing here?”
“Trust Hagrid,” Harry said, then added under his breath, “...should be fine.”
“Move aside, Scarhead!” Malfoy shoved past the group, knocking Harry aside with a sharp shove. He stared at the dragon with wide-eyed delight. “Look at her eyes—those orange-red pupils! And her wings—when fully spread, they’ve gotta be fifty meters wide!”
Nobeta, the dragon, had heard the voices. Her red eyes flicked toward them, slitted and calculating. Then, with a sudden flick of her long tail, she lashed out.
Hagrid reacted instantly, shoving the front row aside with a quick sweep of his arm. The nearest students stumbled backward, sprawling on the ground. Harry fell hard, his eyes wide as he watched a barbed, hooked tail whip past just inches from his face—leaving a deep gash in the trunk of a nearby tree.
“Sorry about that,” Hagrid chuckled, helping the fallen up as if it were nothing. “Nobeta’s protective of her food. Can’t get near her while she’s eating.”
“Thanks, Hagrid,” Ron said, still nervous. “But you should’ve warned us before she started dinner.”
Hermione froze. She felt the dragon shift slightly. The three-horned head turned just enough to face them, one eye watching them intently from the shadows. A chill ran down her spine. “Don’t speak,” she whispered urgently. “Stay quiet!”
Before she could finish, Hagrid waved cheerfully. “Hey, Nobeta! Don’t be scared—Mum’s here!”
The dragon exhaled sharply through her nostrils—a puff of flame that didn’t burn Hagrid, but still sent waves of searing heat through the air. Everyone flinched.
Hagrid brushed ash from his beard, smiling fondly. “Such a sweet little darling… still a baby, really!”
“Is Hagrid blind?” Michael muttered to Wade, teeth clenched. “I’ve never seen a sixty-foot baby before!”
He regretted joining this trip. This wasn’t fun. Not at all. He’d rather be back in the Common Room, cracking jokes or writing a dull essay.
Wade couldn’t help but snort a laugh.
The others were shaken, but no one suggested leaving. The giant creature remained in the forest, and everyone waited patiently.
The sight of the dragon tearing through its meal was brutal—yet the sheer majesty of the beast, its scales glinting dully in the dim light, was mesmerizing. No textbook illustration could match the awe of seeing it in person.
After several minutes, Nobeta finally finished eating. With another burst of flame, she incinerated the bloodstains and debris on the ground. Then, she settled onto a relatively flat patch of earth, lowering her massive body with a sigh. Her tail swayed slowly, her eyes half-lidded.
“Hey, Nobeta,” Hagrid called, striding forward. “Look—lots of friends came to play with you!”
The dragon lifted one eyelid slightly, eyeing Hagrid. A low, rumbling growl escaped her throat—no more, no less.
Hagrid gently stroked her snout and neck, then turned and waved. “Come on, kids! You can come closer!”
Harry stepped forward first. Wade noticed him hesitate, his steps slow and reluctant—clearly regretting his choice, but too kind-hearted to disappoint Hagrid.
Nobeta’s gaze locked onto him. Even half-visible, those orange-red eyes were unnerving.
But she didn’t move. Just exhaled a thin stream of hot breath.
“Don’t be afraid,” Hagrid encouraged. “She’s in a good mood. Go on—touch her.”
Harry inched forward, then cautiously reached out. His fingers brushed the dragon’s wrinkled wing. A surprised smile spread across his face.
“Come on, kids!” Hagrid called, patting Nobeta’s neck. “She’s harmless! Right?”
Rolf bounded forward instantly. One by one, the others followed. Malfoy, still rubbing his arm from his earlier fall, watched for a moment before stepping forward—carefully, respectfully.
After eating, Nobeta was astonishingly docile. She didn’t even seem to notice the small humans circling her, allowing them to stroke her scales and claws with gentle hands.
Nobeta had hatched at Hogwarts, raised by Hagrid—unlike most dragons, she didn’t instinctively distrust wizards. When she was a hatchling, she’d been as volatile as a firecracker. But as she grew, so did her gentleness.
Hagrid repeated his instructions, voice firm but warm: “She’s sweet-natured, but don’t you dare sneak around and bully her while I’m not looking. She’s not someone to mess with when she’s angry. Don’t pull her scales or feathers, but if any fall, you can keep them.”
In truth, the students had been carefully selected by Hagrid. Fred and George were too busy with class to come. He knew there were no pranksters among them—no troublemakers.
He was speaking mostly to Malfoy. Half his attention remained fixed on the Slytherin boy.
If the half-giant hadn’t been so desperate to find a plausible way to break his promise, he never would’ve brought Malfoy near his precious Nobeta.
But to Hagrid’s surprise, Malfoy didn’t try anything. No sabotage. No mocking words—no snide remarks like the last time with the Hippogriff.
Instead, he touched the dragon with gentle reverence, his eyes wide with wonder. Even when he accidentally bumped into Harry, he didn’t even register who it was—the boy he despised most.
For a moment, Malfoy looked… like a child.
Hagrid relaxed slightly. He unslung a pouch from his back and began handing out dried meat strips and fruit.
“You can feed her a little,” he said. “She likes fruit. Just toss it from a few meters away—don’t get too close.”
He gave Malfoy an extra handful, hoping the distraction would keep him from mischief.
Wade took his share—Hagrid’s casual grab was more than enough for him: two apples, a small handful of cherries, and a few exotic fruits, all fragrant and sweet.
He fed her for a while, then paused. A strange sound reached his ears—crackling twigs, and a muffled whimper—coming from deep in the forest.
Was someone from the group following us in the Forbidden Forest? Did they get hurt?
Wade listened closely. Nothing else.
He glanced at Hagrid, who was still engrossed in the students’ interactions with Nobeta. He decided not to interrupt. Hagrid couldn’t afford to leave. If Nobeta suddenly snapped, the whole group could be wiped out.
But something about that sound nagged at him.
He handed the rest of the fruit to Rolf. “Here, keep feeding her. I’ll be back in a sec—I need to… you know.”
“Alright,” Rolf said, taking the fruit. “Be careful. Don’t go too far.”
“Don’t worry,” Wade said, waving casually. “I know.”
He stepped into the trees.
Guard dog Fang, instantly alert, noticed the student leaving the group. It looked from Master Hagrid to Wade’s retreating form, then made its decision. With a sharp bark, it bolted after him.
Wade, still hidden behind a tree trunk, cast a Disguise Charm—quick, silent, and precise—then moved toward the source of the sound.
“Woof! Woof!” Fang came rushing up, nearly colliding with him. It stopped just short, panting, then barked low and urgent, urging him back.
Wade felt like a shepherd dog herding a lost lamb. He dropped the charm, crouched down, and gently stroked Fang’s head.
“There’s something strange out here,” he murmured. “Maybe a student got separated. Listen—do you hear it?”
The dog stopped barking. It lifted its ears, listening intently.
Silence returned. Then—faint, but clear—rustle… click… click… and heavy, labored breathing.
Fang stiffened. Its fur bristled. It bared its teeth, snarling fiercely—so much so that a normal child might have screamed.
But Wade knew better. The dog was terrified. Fang only acted brave when Hagrid was near.
Then came the click-click—like chitinous claws tapping together.
Wade raised an eyebrow. He knew what it was.
He drew his wand, stepped forward. Fang followed, cowering behind him.
They rounded a bush.
There, in the dim light, were several creatures the size of ponies—Acromantulas, eight legs moving with a swaggering, domineering gait. They were slowly approaching a large tree, surrounding a hollow in its roots.
“Blood,” one hissed. “Smells like blood.”
“Dragon’s prey… escaped,” another said, delighted.
“Dinner,” the others chimed in, tapping their claws. “Snacks.”
“Quiet!” the largest one snapped. “Don’t draw the Fire Dragon’s attention!”
Inside the hollow, something stirred—shallow, ragged breaths, a faint whimper. A small, trembling shape, barely visible in the darkness.
“Hey!” Wade stepped out from behind the tree, wand raised. “What are you doing?”
All the spiders turned. Dozens of eyes glowed in the dark.
“Human!”
“Stranger!”
“Hagrid’s little one!”
“Eat! Eat!”
Wade frowned. Something was off. Aragog should still be alive. Yet these spiders showed no respect for Hagrid—no fear, no recognition.
No time to think. He waved his hand. A Cloak of Disguise snapped open—Mihal shot out like an arrow from a bow, his maw glowing with a thin, eager flame.
The spiders froze. One second later, they turned and fled—eight legs blurring into motion, vanishing into the forest.
Mihal clicked his beak, then perched on a branch, wings spread. Three long, fiery feathers extended from his wings.
Wade considered. “Just enough. One hundred percent should be enough.”
He didn’t want them. Not really. Acromantulas were treacherous, cold-blooded creatures—capable of betrayal. And though their venom was valuable, he’d rather not keep any.
Mihal chirped happily and took off after them, leaving trails of fire in the darkness.
With Mihal in control, Wade wasn’t worried about a forest fire. He closed the Cloak, crouched down, and whispered, “Lumos.”
The tree hollow filled with bright white light.
The creature inside flinched, shielding its eyes. “Who’s there?” it whimpered—a child’s voice, soft and trembling, too young to be in Hogwarts.
Fang erupted into barks, lunging forward—only to be yanked back by Wade’s grip on his collar.
Wade stepped closer. Then he saw it.
A young wolf.
Round-headed, small and fluffy—like a ball of fur. Its short tail twitched. Wet, black nose quivered. Big, frightened eyes, wide with panic. Its pale yellow fur was matted with blood.
A deep gash ran along its back—clearly claw marks from Nobeta.
Wade went silent.
This pup must’ve been Nobeta’s “snack” or toy. But somehow, it had escaped.
Even now, free, it wouldn’t survive long. The wound needed treatment—fast.
And then it spoke.
Wade frowned. “You’re… a werewolf’s child?”
He’d read about it—werewolves, when in wolf form, could mate and produce a litter of real wolf pups. But those pups possessed near-human intelligence.
But no book said they could speak human language.
Still, in this world, spiders talked. Why not a wolf?
“I… I’m a werewolf’s son,” the pup stammered, burying its face in its paws. “Please… don’t kill me… I won’t come near the school again…”
Wade sighed. The creature looked so pitiful.
He raised his wand. “Stupefy.”
The pup floated out of the hollow, then landed gently in his arms.
“Don’t struggle,” Wade said softly. “You’ll die if you keep moving. Let me help.”
He pointed his wand at the wound, murmuring a healing spell.
Blood slowed. But the wound refused to close. Norwegian Ridgeback claws carried a venom—slow, deadly.
“Back to the group,” he said. “Madam Pomfrey will have to treat you. I don’t know if she’ll do double duty as a vet…”
He cast another spell—putting the pup into a deep sleep. Then tucked it into his pocket.
With Fang at his heels, he turned and walked back toward the others.
Deep in the woods, a bush trembled.
A moment later, a single amber eye peeked through the leaves—watching Wade’s retreating back.
(End of Chapter)
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