Chapter 463: Giving Up is Not an Option
Chapter 463: Giving Up is Not an Option
The changes that had occurred with Hagrid were entirely within Albert's expectations.
However, it seemed that Gryffindors were infamously stubborn. Despite knowing that raising a dragon was illegal, Hagrid still intended to do so. Did he not consider the consequences of his actions?
Perhaps Hagrid had never truly thought about this issue until now.
After all, when one's mind is fixated on something, it becomes difficult to heed the advice of others.
Albert had confirmed as much during his visit to Hagrid, seeing how obsessed Hagrid was with obtaining the dragon egg from his prophecy.
"Because of the dragon egg?" Albert asked, clearing his throat as he met Hagrid's expectant gaze. He had just taken a bite of cake.
"Yeah!" Hagrid nodded eagerly like a child.
"Do you know that raising a dragon is illegal?" Albert inquired further.
Hagrid fell silent, looking conflicted. He evidently had no intention of answering that question.
Of course, raising a dragon was illegal. But Hagrid didn't want to give up on this opportunity.
He knew that as long as no one found out, he wouldn't be breaking the law.
However, Hagrid couldn't exactly voice that thought out loud.
Albert didn't seem inclined to press the issue further. Instead, he asked, "If you get your hands on the dragon egg and hatch it, what then? What do you plan to do with the dragon afterward?"
Once again, Hagrid fell silent. He hadn't thought that far ahead; his mind was solely focused on obtaining the egg.
"Then what should I do?" Hagrid asked quietly, looking embarrassed as he turned to Albert.
"Raise it for a few months," Albert suggested between mouthfuls of Hagrid's cake. "Then, when summer comes, ask Professor Dumbledore to help you send the dragon away, just like he did with Norbert. Whether it's one or two dragons, they'll still need to be sent away."
This was actually the best option—it would fulfill Hagrid's desire to raise a dragon while also resolving the issue of keeping it.
Seeing Hagrid's continued silence, Albert reminded him, "Don't forget, raising a dragon is against the law."
"I don't want to cause trouble for Professor Dumbledore!" Hagrid said glumly. "He's already so busy; I shouldn't add to his burdens."
"Then you shouldn't be raising a dragon." Albert found Hagrid's train of thought amusing. "If you don't want to trouble the headmaster, then give it up!"
"You know, raising a dragon is my biggest dream in life!" Hagrid waved his arms animatedly, spittle flying as he ranted at Albert.
"You'll never be able to hide the fact that you're raising a dragon in Hogwarts," Albert warned. "The Ministry of Magic will find out sooner or later. If you're lucky, they'll release the dragon into the wild and fine you a hefty sum of galleons. But if you're not, they'll just chop its head off. You'll lose your job as the gamekeeper of Hogwarts, and you'll end up in Azkaban. The headmaster will also come under fire because of this."
Hagrid's body began to tremble slightly, as Albert had struck a nerve.
"You just have a preference for fierce creatures," Albert sighed, observing Hagrid's reaction. "I understand why, but I need to remind you again. Just because something isn't a threat to you doesn't mean it's harmless to the wizards at school. If you can't realize that, you'll eventually bring a lot of trouble upon yourself."
"How can I get a dragon egg, then?" Hagrid ignored Albert's warning and asked the question that was on his mind.
"I don't know," Albert replied after taking a sip of his amber tea to moisten his throat. Glancing at the dejected Hagrid, he continued, "But I know you probably can't afford one, so there are only a few ways to get your hands on a dragon egg."
"What are they?"
"Finding one, receiving it as a gift, buying it cheap from a peddler, or winning it in a gamble," Albert listed the options he had thought of to deceive Hagrid.
Hagrid repeated them, his face no longer as confused as before. Although he felt that Albert made sense, he wondered if it would be that easy to obtain a dragon egg.
"Go to the Hog's Head Tavern around Easter," Albert advised. "I think it will be quite lively there during that time. If you're lucky, you might just get your hands on a dragon egg."
"I see, I understand," Hagrid said excitedly.
Seeing Hagrid's enthusiasm, Albert poured cold water on his hopes. "I can't guarantee that you'll get your wish. After all, this is just a reverse speculation based on the prophecy, and the outcome is uncertain."
"I understand!" Hagrid's face lit up with a broad smile.
Fail?
How could he possibly fail?
Hagrid, who had always dreamed of raising a dragon, refused to believe that he would fail.
Could Albert fail? No, he couldn't.
At that moment, Hagrid blindly believed in Albert because that was the answer he wanted to hear.
After finishing the cake and tea, Albert got up to leave.
As soon as Albert left, Hermione appeared from somewhere, looking anxious. "Are you sure it's okay to say that? I'm worried that if your prophecy fails, Hagrid will be extremely disappointed."
At that moment, Hermione desperately hoped that Albert's prophecy would come true.
However, if the prophecy came true, what would they do with the dragon?
Raising a dragon was illegal, and if others found out about Hagrid's actions, he would surely be arrested by the Ministry of Magic and heavily fined.
"I never lie," Albert said solemnly, spinning a tale. "This is just a result deduced from the prophecy, but the future can change."
"You're lying," Hermione accused.
"Believe me," Albert looked into Hermione's eyes and said, "If Hagrid really gets a dragon egg and raises a dragon, you, Potter, and Weasley will definitely be in trouble."
"I can even tell you that even if Hagrid raises a giant in the Forbidden Forest in the future, I wouldn't be surprised," Albert continued. "He will eventually bring trouble upon himself, and he is completely oblivious to it. Maybe he needs to hit rock bottom and learn a hard lesson before he wakes up!"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
