[Third Person POV]
While Merlin was carrying Gwyneth back to her dorm room, Lance and Arthur were making their way toward the castle entrance, ready to head inside as well. Arthur clutched his stomach. "Man, exercising always gives me an appetite. I feel like I could eat a whole feast right now."
Lance chuckled in agreement, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "I know what you mean, I'm a bit famished myself. But honestly? I'll always appreciate a nice, warm bath way more after a run. Nothing beats soaking the soreness away."
"It seems we have different priorities in order," Arthur said, walking with his hands folded behind his head, fingers interlocked in his usual carefree manner.
Before they could take another step, a loud voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Oi! Arthur, me boy! You got a secon'?"
Both young men turned just in time to see Hagrid speed-walking toward them, his huge strides kicking up little puffs of snow. Even from a distance, they could see his breath dancing in the frigid morning air.
"Hagrid! What a pleasant surprise," Arthur greeted with a warm smile. "Good morning."
"Mornin' to the both of ya'," Hagrid said cheerfully, giving them both a nod. "I take it you're done with your mornin' trainin', eh?"
"That I am," Arthur confirmed, though he gave Hagrid a curious look. It wasn't like the half-giant to seek him out unless something urgent—or exciting—was involved.
"That's great, lad. I wanted to talk to ya about somethin' important," Hagrid said before glancing at Lance. "In private… no offense."
"None taken," Lance said with an understanding smile. He bumped fists with Arthur in their usual pattern before backing away. "I'll catch you later. There's a warm bath with my name on it waiting inside."
"Enjoy yourself," Arthur laughed, watching him head toward the castle.
As Lance disappeared indoors, Hagrid turned with an excited glint in his eyes. "C'mon now, follow me," he said, already heading toward his hut on the outskirts of the grounds.
"Just a moment." Arthur puckered his lips and let out a sharp series of whistles. Almost immediately, the shrubs nearby rustled as Cosmo and Sylvia emerged from the tall winter grass. They had accompanied him through his entire morning training, as usual.
Sylvia bounded forward first, circling Hagrid with energetic little hops, tail wagging with excitement.
"Well hello there!" the half-giant laughed, crouching down just enough to give her an affectionate pat.
Cosmo, on the other hand, merely strolled out with leisurely confidence. He brushed between Arthur's legs, arching his back in a deep stretch and letting out a long, lazy yawn.
"So what is it you wanted to show me?" Arthur finally asked as they approached the hut.
"Well, first things first," Hagrid said as he fished for his keys. "I never got to properly thank ya for that overcoat. Hard findin' decent clothes in my size, y'know. And from the feel of the fabric, it must've cost you a pretty silver."
"Think nothing of it," Arthur replied easily. "Consider it a thank-you for helping me take care of Sylvia. Besides, the coat suits you."
They stepped inside, and immediately Cosmo hissed and recoiled, racing back behind Arthur's legs. A wave of blistering heat blasted from the interior.
"Alright, quick now—get in before the warmth escapes!" Hagrid said urgently as he ushered them inside and shut the door.
"Woah," Arthur muttered, rubbing his arms as the heat enveloped him like a furnace. "It's like stepping into a dragon's den."
Hagrid only chuckled as he shuffled over to the fireplace. He began feeding several thick wooden planks into the roaring flames and stoked them with practiced ease. "Sorry 'bout the heat, Arthur lad, but it's gotta stay toasty in here for our special guest."
His massive frame blocked the view, but Arthur had a pretty good idea of what could possibly require this kind of temperature.
Sylvia, apparently, already knew—she growled softly, staring at the fireplace with suspicion.
"You can probably smell it already, can't ya, little lady?" Hagrid teased.
"Well?" Arthur said, folding his arms with a smirk. "Are you planning on showing me, or keeping me in suspense?"
"Right, right—Ta-da!!" Hagrid shifted aside with dramatic flair, revealing a large black dragon egg nestled safely inside the furnace, glowing faintly from the heat.
"I got meself my very own dragon egg!" he exclaimed, practically glowing with pride and joy.
Arthur let out a long, impressed whistle. "Congratulations, Hagrid. I remember you telling me how you always wanted one. Looks like that dream's finally coming true."
"Haha, I know! As soon as I got it for myself last night, you were the very first person I wanted to show it to," Hagrid said, practically glowing with pride. The joy radiating off him was so obvious it was nearly contagious.
Sylvia trotted a few steps ahead, her claws clicking softly against the floorboards before she sat down right in front of the furnace. She stared up at the dragon egg with visible curiosity, her head tilting one way and then the other.
"Interested, eh, little lady?" Hagrid chuckled warmly. He crouched—well, as much as a man of his size could—and gently scooped Sylvia into his arms. "That right there is a dragon just like you."
'Nowhere near,' Arthur thought, unable to stop the small flare of pride that rose within him. Sylvia wasn't just a dragon—she was a higher, rarer, and far more regal species altogether.
Sylvia, evidently, shared that sentiment. Through their communication link, her voice echoed indignantly in his mind. "Was I just insulted?"
Arthur had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing out loud.
Meanwhile, Hagrid—completely unaware of the subtle, growing tension—continued with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Once it hatches, the two o' ya could very well end up bein' best friends! Ho ho ho—perhaps even mates!"
He stopped.
Stiffened, actually.
A sudden, sharp chill swept through the room, completely out of place in the heatwave generated by the furnace. It washed over Hagrid like a cold bucket of water, crawling down his spine until every hair on his arms stood on end.
Slowly—very slowly—he turned toward Arthur.
The boy was staring at him with a perfectly blank expression, utterly devoid of his usual warmth or humor. The eeriness of it made Hagrid's throat bob.
"Erm… Arthur?" Hagrid asked, voice cracking just a touch. "What's the matter? Was it… somethin' I said?"
Arthur didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached forward, plucked Sylvia from Hagrid's arms, and held her protectively against his chest as though shielding her from corruption itself. With a sharp tsk, he glared. "What is this nonsense about mates?"
"Well—I mean—I just figured—"
Arthur cut him off with a dramatic scoff and a raised hand. "Oh please. My little girl is far too pure for such nonsense. She isn't allowed to date or bring home a boyfriend until she's at least five hundred years old."
Sylvia blinked at Arthur, confused. "What's a boyfriend?" she asked through their link.
"You'll learn when you're five hundred," Arthur replied immediately, with the sternness of an overprotective parent. "You're far too young to be thinking about such things."
Hagrid stared for a few seconds, utterly taken aback—then a booming wave of laughter erupted from him, shaking the entire hut. Tears nearly formed at the edges of his eyes as he tried to breathe through the hilarity.
Arthur huffed dramatically, stroking Sylvia's fur in long, possessive motions. "Laugh all you want. But I'm warning you—if I find out you're being a bad influence on my daughter, I will be cutting your visitation hours."
Hagrid only laughed harder, wiping at his eyes as Sylvia nestled smugly into Arthur's arms, perfectly content.
********************************************
+10 advance Chapters and my other patron exclusive content on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3
(A/N: Ngl, I think I messed up the timeline a bit with this one, but oh well...)