"Ah—please, Sean, after we feed the Thestrals, come with me to the library to fetch a few books."
Hagrid looked a bit sheepish, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
"What do you think about dragons? The little ones—oh—adorable little fellows," he asked tentatively on the way to feed the Thestrals.
"Newly arrived dragon eggs need to be kept in a fire," Sean said, recalling the large egg tucked under blankets in Hagrid's hut.
"Oh—Merlin—"
Hagrid dropped the side of raw meat he was carrying.
"Please go with Fang, Sean! I've got to run back—m-my stomach's not feeling so good…"
His voice trailed off into the distance.
Sean sighed. He'd better hurry and borrow the right books for Hagrid—Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit, for instance. It was a bit dated, but very comprehensive.
At least it would prevent a dragon egg from being kept under a bedspread.
Hagrid probably knew that, but he'd been excited all day; Sean figured he was simply too worked up to think straight.
The Thestral's familiarity meter was only a hair away from the next threshold; Sean quickened his pace to the grove.
A tall, gaunt, jet-black winged horse stepped out in front of him.
Sean stroked along the upper part of its neck—a spot that made Thestrals very comfortable—which was also one of Hagrid's tricks.
[You practiced Thestral (Woo-Woo) Bonding at Journeyman standard; +10 proficiency]
[A new Magical Creatures domain title is unlocked—check details]
Hm?
Sean realized he'd forgotten: the Journeyman title for the creatures domain required three creatures at Journeyman-level bonding.
So far, the creatures that had bonded to him were: Mrs. Norris the kneazle, Woo-Woo the Thestral, and Tila the Bowtruckle.
And it seemed the creatures domain didn't reward quantity so much as deep companionship—turning creatures around you into true partners.
Thus the entry-level title needed three slightly bonded creatures; the journeyman title still needed three, but at bonded level.
Understanding that, Sean looked down:
[Title: Magical Creature Attuner]
[Greatly increases your affinity with magical creatures; greatly increases your understanding of magical creatures]
Before Sean could process what "greatly increases affinity" would mean, the normally shy bowtruckles twitched. When Sean looked over, their whiskery fronds curled upwards in a gesture that meant "curious, pleased."
Woo-Woo gave a soft call; the bowtruckles vanished again. Only Tila was sprawled atop Sean's head, daring to stretch a twig-like arm toward Woo-Woo for a poke.
Hmm…because of him, the creatures seemed more at ease with each other too.
With the Thestral cookie's most critical prep finished, Sean took out the Planner Map after the feeding.
The red exclamation mark above the Forbidden Forest faded; the alchemy lab's mark lit up instead.
The International Alchemy Congress drew nearer; time to finish the Thestral cookie was running short.
On this bright, balmy day,
Sean stepped into Hagrid's hut.
Fang rubbed around his ankles; Sean patted the dog's head and was about to go when he noticed it:
In the very center of the hearth, beneath the kettle, lay a big, blackened egg.
Sean knew it was the reason the hut was stiflingly hot.
It was also why, on a warm sunny day, Hagrid was still heaping logs onto a roaring fire.
"Goodbye, Hagrid."
Sean was about to leave. A dragon not even hatched—he probably couldn't build any real bond with it yet.
"I don't even know how to thank you, Sean—please, have a cup of tea before you go…"
Hagrid rose from his bed and hurried to brew tea.
Sean took a sip, but politely declined the stoat sandwiches Hagrid brought.
"All right then, Sean, I suppose you've guessed… You're observant—nothing escapes you…"
Half embarrassed and half hopeful, he added, "I can't do this alone. I'd like to ask you to help me look after the little one. Would you…?"
"I'd be happy to help."
Sean nodded. Hagrid hummed a cheerful tune and walked him to the edge of the Forest.
"Goodbye—see you tomorrow."
He leaned in for a hug; remembering the last rib-crushing embrace, Sean dodged in a flash.
They stood in a long moment of silence.
"Ha—sorry, my fault—I forgot again—next time, I will remember—"
Hagrid flushed.
…
The Thestral cookie ritual came together smoothly. With two successful frameworks behind him, Sean was far more fluent in the process.
While he worked, Hagrid asked him to fetch books from the library a few times.
But Hagrid eventually gave up reading—he realized he had a walking library at his side.
"Let's see—vertical striations, black shell… oh, Sean, can you tell what dragon—"
"Norwegian Ridgeback."
"Rare indeed. It says here once the hatchling emerges we should…"
"Feed it a bucket of chicken blood laced with brandy every half hour—that's in Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit."
"It says to be careful—but careful of what…"
"Beware its venomous fangs, and its early-maturing fireball."
Hagrid lacked a lot of dragon-care basics; fortunately his constant questions made him self-conscious enough to ask plainly. That solved the awkwardness.
Though one of them was huge and the other small, the half-giant often deferred to the little wizard.
It struck visiting Harry and Ron as odd.
Odder still was how practiced they were together—like they'd worked this way for years.
April has arrived.
A warm wind swept in off the Scottish coast, leaving the castle snug and bright.
Winter's bite was nearly gone; Sean's alchemy, meanwhile, had leapt forward.
He'd completed half the progress toward the Expert alchemy title, and had finished the Thestral cookie.
In the days soon to come, once the dragon hatched, he'd have ample time to observe it, build familiarity, and forge his "dragon cohort."
For now, a single problem:
What to name the dragon?
~~~
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