Next day, four Gryffindor' after classes ended, arrived at Hagrid's hut an hour later, surprised to see the curtains drawn on windows. Lucifer figured whatever Hagrid was doing, it was shady.
Harry and Ron were looking exactly like two guilty burglars. He rolled his eyes. Subtle, they were not.
Harry knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Hagrid called, but none of them got to answer as the door opened and he quickly ushered them in, shutting the door rather quickly behind them.
It was blazing hot inside, even with their Summer Clothing on.
---Lucifer looked and saw a fire going, and something sitting in the flame of the fireplace, and Hagrid made them some tea, offering stoat sandwiches, which they kindly refused.
He decided to not mention what he saw for now.
"So, yeh wanted tae ask me somethin'?"
"Yes..." Harry said, trailing off for a moment. There was no reason to beat around the bush with it, "We were wondering if you could tell us what's guarding the Philosopher's Stone apart from Fluffy?"
"O' course I can't," he said gruffly, "Number one, I don' know meself. 'n two, yeh know too much already, so I wouldn' tell yeh if I could. That Stone's here fer a good reason. It was almost stolen outta Gringotts. I s'ppose yeh've worked that out an' all? Beats me how yeh even know abou' Fluffy."
"Oh, come on, Hagrid!" Hermione started, her voice quite warm and flattery, this girl almost jumped from Lucifer's lap, while trying to butter him up.
He couldn't help, but notice her slightly different tone... it's just he thought, it would be much better to shut up honestly, and not point it out.
"You might not want to tell us, but you do know, everything that goes on around here," Hagrid's beard twitched and they could all tell he was smiling.
"We only wondered who had done the guarding really," Hermione continued to use her sweet attacks, "I am just curious, who Dumbledore trusted enough to help him, apart from you, of course!"
Hagrid's chest swelled at these last words. Harry and even Ron were beaming at Hermione, while Lucifer was, again, quite astonished by her manipulation skills.
She could be incredibly devious without any effort at all. When, she noticed Lucifer's impressed look at her, girl blushed as red as a strawberry.
"Well, I don' s'ppose it could hurt ter tell yeh that... let's see... he borrowed Fluffy from me... then some o' the teachers did enchantments... Professor Sprout - Professor Flitwick - Professor McGonagall..." he was ticking them off on his fingers, "Professor Quirrell - an' Dumbledore himself did somethin', o' course. Hang on... I've forgotten someone..." he sat there for a moment trying to think, "Oh yeah, Professor Snape did somethin' as well."
"Snape?" Harry asked, wide-eyed.
"Yeah - yer not still on abou' that, are yeh? Look, Snape helped protect the Stone, he's not about ter steal it," Hagrid tried to defend the Potions Master.
Lucifer thought it suspicious to be quite honest. Quirrell was helping to protect it, supposedly, but why would any of the teachers give away their method of defending the Stone to anyone other than Dumbledore himself---?
The only other alternative to that would be every teacher knowing the protection methods.
----It just didn't make sense to him, which only made Lucifer's suspicion increase towards the motives of Headmaster, no way he wouldn't know Quirrell was suspicious, even Snape warned him... So, why was Dumbledore being so lenient---?
"You're the only one who knows how to get past Fluffy, aren't you, Hagrid?" Harry asked him anxiously, "And you wouldn't tell anyone would you? Not even one of the other teachers?"
"Not a soul knows except me an' Dumbledore," Hagrid said proudly.
"Well, that's something," Harry muttered to them, and looked back at the giant man, "Hagrid, can we have a window open? I'm roasting here."
"Can't, Harry, sorry," Hagrid said, glancing over at the fireplace. The other three finally noticed what Lucifer had seen earlier, a huge, black egg sitting in the heart of the fireplace.
"Hagrid..." Hermione startled, "What's that?"
Lucifer suspected she already knew, but needed confirmation.
"Ah..." Hagrid was nervous and fidgety, "Th-That's - er..."
"Where did you get it, Hagrid?" Ron asked him, a look of awe on his face. He got up and crouched over near the fire to get a closer look, "It must've cost you a fortune!"
"Won it," Hagrid said happily, "Las' night actually. I was down in the village, havin' a few drinks an' got into a game o' cards with a stranger. Think he was quite glad ter get rid of it, ter be honest."
"Hagrid... what are you going to do with it once it's hatched?" Hermione asked him.
"Well, I've bin doin' some readin'," Hagrid said, pulling a large book from under his pillow. "Got this outta the library---'Dragon-Breeding for Pleasure and Profit'--it's a bit outta date, o' course, but it's all in here. Keep the egg in the fire, 'cause their mothers breathe on 'em, see, an' when it hatches, feed it on a bucket o' brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour. An' see here - how ter recognize different eggs - what I got there's a Norwegian Ridgeback. They're rare, them."
Hagrid was looking pleased with himself, but Hermione pointed out a fatal flaw in his plan, "Hagrid, but you live in a wooden house!"
Lucifer couldn't help the slight snigger that left his lips at her words.
Taking a glance around the cramped wooden hut, as she pointed out, "You do know this place isn't nearly big enough? Give it a month, and this dragon'll blow your roof off."
But Hagrid wasn't listening. He waved his hand dismissively. "I'll manage. Don't worry."
The three of them, even Hermione now had something else to worry about, on top of the Stone, Snape, Quirrell not caving, and their exams: what might happen to Hagrid if anyone found out he was hiding an illegal dragon in his wooden hut.....
But, Lucifer didn't care much about it, he was even thinking, if Hagrid could sell him this egg.
"Wonder what it's like to have a peaceful life," Ron sighed, crouching outside the hut on his knees, "A dragon egg, this could give you a fortune...."
xxxxxxx
Evening after evening they struggled through all the extra homework they were getting. Or Harry and Ron were at least; Lucifer and Hermione were doing just fine in their Homework unit.
She had noticed that Harry didn't bother to make revision timetables, so she made up some for him as well, but Lucifer noticed it was starting to drive him mad.
xxxxxx
Monday, Lucifer stared blankly at the dragonhide pouch containing teo thousand Galleons.
"Hey, it really worked."
Daphne was bouncing with joy in front of him, "Mum said Astoria's cheeks have color again, and she ate an entire plate of spaghetti for dinner! She used to only manage a third. I was always afraid she'd starve."
Lucifer gave her a small smile. "I expected it to work."
He let her celebrate a while longer before casually shaking the heavy pouch in his hand----"So... what's all this gold about?"
"Payment for the potion, obviously," Daphne replied matter-of-factly.
"It's far too valuable to just take for free... Mum's already helping you gather the ingredients for the next batch. From now on, each vial will be three hundred galleons---don't you dare say it's too much or too little."
"Oh... And she also said if you need any other ingredients, just let her know--she'll source them for you. Also, carrying this much gold around is dangerous, so she's planning to transfer into 'your vault'. That way, she can deposit funds directly and you can just withdraw as needed."
She spoke in one breath, clearly pleased, but Lucifer had fallen silent, the moment she asked for his vault number. A rather unsettling question was circling in his mind: 'Where exactly did the Greengrass family's money come from?'
They were treating three hundred Galleons the same way most people treated three Sickles.
He suspected this tied into some closely-guarded family secret. But Lucifer didn't ask---not because he feared Daphne wouldn't tell him, but because... well, she likely didn't know either.
"Daphne," he said suddenly, his tone unusually serious.
She blinked and tensed. "What's wrong?"
"I told you before--the potion was a gift. I'm not taking your money."
Daphne opened her mouth to protest, but Lucifer cut her off quickly, "I know you're anxious. But wait--let me finish."
She shut her mouth, lips pursed in reluctant silence.
"I'm never short on gold, or money as a matter of fact," Lucifer explained, "I have 'countless people' who owes me debts, and pays on time. I haven't even spent the money you gave me----before. 'And don't forget', I still have those demon parts.... Once sold to the right individuals, they'll fetch a fortune."
He leaned forward slightly. "Let me ask you something. If I needed money, and came to you for help, would you lend it to me?"
"Of course." Daphne answered without hesitation.
"Exactly," Lucifer said with a shrug. "And I would do the same. Astoria is your sister---which makes her my sister too. If my little sister is sick, and I have the ability to help her, do you think I'm going to charge her for it?"
"So, as long as your mother can provide the ingredients, I'll keep brewing the potion. No payment necessary...."
"But," he added, "I should warn you---this 'Strengthening Elixir' has a resistance buildup. After fifteen to twenty doses, its effects will diminish."
Daphne was already teary-eyed with emotion. Words failing her, but it needed to be said, she simply pressed open her thin lips, "Thank you, friend..."
Realizing what she'd said was out of cold personality, her face instantly turned crimson, and she fled from the grove like a startled pixie.
(Note PS - She's paired with Tracey Davis, Astoria had already a crush on Theodore Nott...)
xxxxxx
Back at the Greengrass estate, her mother read Daphne's letter with a thoughtful expression....
Meeting Lucifer wasn't just Daphne's fortune---it was Astoria's salvation.
He might refuse gold now, but she couldn't let that slide. Come summer holidays, she would make sure Daphne invited him to visit, even if it's for just one day. She'd give him the vault locker key as a welcome gift---not for the potion, but as a gesture of goodwill. He wouldn't be able to reject that... right?
(Greengrass deposited gold into Lucifer's vault, but she had ordered Goblins to make a seperate portion inside where she could deposit hers)
Still, even that wasn't enough.
Astoria's condition hadn't been cured entirely. They might still need Lucifer's help in the future. And help must be earned---with 'genuine sincerity.'
Resolved, Lady Greengrass stepped to her wardrobe, unlocked a private compartment with a drop of her own blood, and carefully drew out a blank piece of parchment---The only marking on it was the family crest pressed into the corner---
A silent but powerful symbol of the Greengrass name.
xxxxxx
Lucifer quickly learned just how efficient old wizarding families could be. Three days later, every ingredient he had requested arrived--in bulk.
Five pairs of fresh sphinx eyes, and every other component in fivefold quantities---Just the sight of those five freshly harvested eyes made Lucifer's own skip a beat.
To him a supply of hell's ingredients was endless, but certain creatures just weren't under his command, and not found in other parts of the Multiverse, and native to numbers of Earth's.
When he asked Daphne how they managed it so fast, she just smiled.
Though the Greengrass family didn't own a Sphinx ranch, they had shares in several parts of Egypt----besides their eyes can regrow within two and half period of months, however it's almost "illegal" to harvest, for potion ingredients, or trophies, cause--- they were a highly intelligent magical creature native to Egypt, featuring a human head and a giant lion's body.
---Renowned for loving puzzles and riddles, they were often used by wizards to guard valuables or secret hideaways. And, they were revered as pagon gods in those highly tribal regions.
Greengrass' simply swapped part of their annual dividends for the raw materials he needed. Bloody capitalists.
----Lucifer had spent pulling on 'old, really old, favours', took some efforts to wrung those Lizard, hybrid, Dark elf--- species out, to secure what he originally had. Snape's treasury was already long gone.
Meanwhile, a single word from her family had all the rarest magical components neatly boxed and owl-delivered in three days.
He wept internally. This earth's too precious.
xxxxxx
Grindelwald had long since confirmed it with his own eyes---
Lucifer could cast spells without a wand, summoning "Medusa" "Undead" the size of a giant. Grindelwald had exclaimed that such magic didn't even feel like magic anymore.
He used to consider himself a master in wandless magic---his proudest feat being the effortless subduing of the Scamander couple with just a few flicks of his hand. But compared to Lucifer? He was utterly outclassed.
Another week of classes passed.
After Potions class, Lucifer quietly followed Snape into his office.
Snape acted like he didn't notice, tending to his business-stacking student essays neatly, lighting the extinguished fireplace-before finally asking, "All right, what's the problem this time?"
"I'd like to submit a thesis," Lucifer said plainly, "But I want your feedback first-to check if anything needs improving."
"A thesis?" Snape looked at him skeptically, unsure what had gotten into the boy. Still, he didn't question Lucifer's ability.
Doubting him would mean doubting his own teaching. With a brilliant student and a masterful teacher, Lucifer had already surpassed most others in the field of Potions.
Snape was just baffled. This kid had always been obsessed with raw power. What was he doing writing academic papers?
"Let me see it."
His curiosity piqued, Snape accepted the small booklet Lucifer handed over-about ten pages thick.
"On the Feasibility of Extracting Vital Active Properties from Potion Ingredients"
Snape frowned at the title. Had he ever taught Morningstar anything like this?
For the next half hour, Lucifer leaned back with his eyes closed while the only sound in the room was the flipping of pages---and increasingly complicated expressions on Snape's face as he read. He was clearly dissecting every word and paragraph with care.
Lucifer's thesis proposed a method to extract 'life-active' properties from ingredients. The extracted essence could be absorbed more easily, and the process significantly reduced impurities and toxins, drastically improving potion quality.
It sounded simple. But it flipped traditional potion-making on its head.
'Grind, slice, juice'---those were the standard methods of ingredient prep. But if you only needed the life-active essence, wouldn't that change the entire formula? Could it still be called the same potion?
Snape meticulously examined Lucifer's experimental data.
Lately, he has brewed quite a few different varieties of Fortifying Potions, replaced with Wizarding world's materials. The trickiest part was using substitute, processing 'Salamander's' heart---it required an incredibly delicate hand to remove every impurity and preserve only the core vitality. Any misstep could sabotage the entire brew.
Adding drops of Minotaur blood, full of eternal vitality. Then inspiration struck---what if he used modern medical extraction techniques?
Target only the elements he needed. After two failed attempts (and losing 40% of his Salamander heart stock), he finally succeeded. The resulting potion was even stronger and absorbed better----
Originally, he hadn't planned to publish any paper. But with Gryffindor' academic credits stuck in a rut, and declining day by day, since Quirrell didn't reward any---he figured, why not try to score some with a bit of scholarship?
'No wonder these lions don't win House Cups,' Lucifer thought.
The data was solid. The improvements were real. Snape couldn't fault any of it. But... something still felt off.
Sphinx eyes... Salamander's hearts.
Wait a minute--why did those ingredients sound so familiar?
"... Morningstar."
Lucifer slowly opened his eyes. Snape was watching him carefully.
"These materials--where exactly did you get them? And why does your potion's effects section omit information on its... secondary magical interactions?"
Of course, he had been ready for that question, "I came across the recipe by chance. As for the ingredients..."
He gave a sheepish grin.
"They were provided by Daphne-or more accurately, sponsored by the Greengrass family."
Greengrass?
Snape raised an eyebrow. But then he thought of how that girl had been sometimes noticed walking Lucifer's side. The suspicion drained from his face.
'If the Greengrasses were behind it, then everything made sense. Still... Morningstar, you little bastard. Already living off a wealthy pureblood family at your age? What happened to ambition and hard work?'
Seeing Snape's reaction, Lucifer became even more intrigued by the Greengrasses. He decided to just ask directly.
"Professor, Daphne's kind of clueless---she doesn't really know much about her own family. But I've been wondering... just how rich are the Greengrasses? I mean, they don't marry into other families, yet they're insanely powerful. How did they even get this far?"
Snape gave him a long, meaningful look.
"Morningstar, you've read 'Cantankerus Nott's Pureblood Registry', haven't you? Do you remember how he described the Greengrass family?"
Lucifer thought for a moment, pulling up the memory, "The pureblood ideal. A family that never declines."
The 'Sacred Twenty-Eight', a concept now familiar to any student of wizarding bloodlines, first emerged from the pages of Cantankerus Nott's infamous work 'The Pure-Blood Directory.' Revered by some, scorned by others, the book left its mark on the magical world.
As expected, many Slytherin-blood purists swore by it, proudly citing it to justify their own bloodline supremacy. Meanwhile, others-like the Weasleys--openly ridiculed the book's elitist tone. Still, even the most vocal opponents of blood purity like the Weasleys unconsciously followed its dogma. Take Molly Weasley herself from one of the 'Sacred Twenty-Eight.'
The book's author, 'Cantankerus Nott', belonged to the Nott family as Zabini's roommate.
----Unsurprisingly, his writing shamelessly glorified the old Slytherin-blooded houses. Lucifer had never taken his praise at face value.
But Snape's words made Lucifer pause. 'Did Nott actually get something right?'
"Eternal prosperity"? That can't be right...." Lucifer raised a brow, "Even the Gaunt family, Salazar Slytherin's own descendants, fell into ruin. What's so special about the Greengrasses?"
Snape gave a slow shake of the head, "I don't know. I was 'never part' of that circle."
Ah yes, the circle. That invisible ring of old families and pure-blood alliances. Even with his prodigious talent and high standing among the Death Eaters, Snape--tainted by his Prince heritage and Muggle lineage-was never truly accepted.
The Malfoys had maintained a cordial relationship with Snape due to their shared school years and Snape's later rise in Voldemort's ranks. But that was transactional. Affection had nothing to do with it.
"But," Snape hesitated, "even at the height of the Dark Lord's power, the Greengrass family remained strictly neutral. He visited them once... and afterward issued an explicit command not to interfere with them."
He added dryly, "That command was mostly symbolic. No one was ever 'foolish enough' to cross the Greengrasses."
Snape leaned back, his voice quieter, "Some even said the Head of the Department of Magical Transportation position was practically reserved for them..."
"If you want to know what makes them untouchable, you'd have to ask Lady Greengrass. She's a 'formidable woman'."
Lucifer's curiosity deepened, but he could tell Snape had shared all he knew.
So, time to pivot, "Professor, what do you think of the paper?"
Snape narrowed his eyes. "Besides the potion you detailed in your experiments, have you tried this method with other types of brews?"
Lucifer gave an exaggerated shrug. "Professor, I'm still a child. I have classes, homework, a life. I don't have time to run dozens of trials. That's where 'you' come in."
He flashed a grin. "I'll even list you as second author. Not bad, eh?"
Snape snorted.
He had published more first--author papers than most Potioneers dared dream of. Why would he care about a second author slot?
...Well, maybe 'he did' care a little.
Especially if this idea of Lucifer's proved revolutionary. If proven viable, it would 'redefine' the process of potion-making-a generational leap forward.
Even knowing Lucifer was cleverly offloading the boring parts onto him, Snape couldn't resist the pull.
"I'll verify the results," he said, copying the manuscript with a swift Duplicating Charm before stashing it into his desk drawer.
He looked Lucifer in the eye. "If your data holds, this paper alone will earn you formal admission into the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers."
He clicked his tongue in approval. "An official member... at 'eleven. Unprecedented."
The Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers was no mere club. It was the pinnacle of magical pharmacology, an academic behemoth hoarding innovation.
Even Snape, master of his craft, had worked long and hard to be accepted into its ranks. Lucifer's eyes, however, glinted with a different kind of ambition.
He leaned forward slightly. "Professor... do you think this paper could win me the 'Special Award' for Services to the School?"
That made Snape's gaze sharpen instantly. That award meant house points. A lot of them. 'If Morningstar won it, Gryffindor' could get another 100... maybe 200 points. Click, that would ruin the chances, unless----'
"Forty percent of your house points will go to Slytherin." 'Seven consecutive House Cups would be guaranteed....'
"Deal, professor."
Who cares about House points, you don't even get to keep trophy? But, Special award---Lucifer's name, and his own thesis, now that was appealing.
"I'll pull some strings," Snape said without hesitation. "We'll make it happen."
"Slow down, Professor," Lucifer smiled slyly, whispering a few more lines.
Snape's face twisted---then shifted to an oddly resigned expression.
"...Fine. We'll do it your way."
He looked at the boy appraisingly.
"Morningstar, you really are a born Slytherin. A pity a certain old man interfered Sorting."
"Professor, I can tell you meant that as an insult."
"..."
Lucifer flashed a cheeky Muggle hand gesture behind his back and walked out of the office.
xxxxxxx
As it turned out, Lady luck herself favoured him, Lucifer's streak of good fortune wasn't over.
The very next morning, amidst the flutter of wings and rustling of newspapers, a letter finally arrived--one he'd been waiting for with bated breath.
A tawny owl swooped through the Great Hall, nearly skimming a goblet of milk before dropping an envelope into Lucifer's hands.
On it was written the sender's name in elegant script:
Newt Scamander
---He packed the letter away in school robes, under Hermione's big prying eyes, who looked ready to rip it open at once.
.....
In privacy,
Dear Mr. Lucifer Morningstar,
I'm delighted to hear from such a bright and passionate student. Your enthusiasm for magical creatures brings me great joy.
As luck would have it, I was rescuing a pair of 'Pallid Banshees' when your letter arrived. Perhaps your message brought me that luck.
Magical beasts are endlessly fascinating. Each one unique, each demanding a different kind of understanding. I never say I "tame" a beast---only that I've learned from them. Still, I'm happy to offer some advice.
Unicorns are 'extraordinarily pure'. For us men, even getting close to one is a challenge.
Always meet a unicorn's eyes. They can sense intent through your gaze. If they see no malice, you'll have your best chance.
I've also included several dietary mixtures -'they're favorites of unicorns'. Perhaps they'll help you gain their trust. And remember: All creatures, at their core, strive toward strength and evolution.
If you ever discover a method by which a unicorn might transform or ascend, then it may choose to follow you willingly.
Yours faithfully,
Newt Scamander
.....
Lucifer's eyebrows lifted in surprise.
He hadn't expected a man of Newt Scamander's status to respond with such warmth--and thoroughness. And yet, here he was, sending not only kind words, but formulated unicorn dietary plans. 'Sincere to the point of embarrassment.'
A rare breed of wizard indeed. No wonder he was beloved by the magical world (Grindelwald being the obvious exception).
And it explained why the baby unicorn, while willing to eat the food Lucifer provided, never seemed enthusiastic about it---it was tolerable, but not desirable.
Time for an upgrade.
That very day, Hermione saw him placing multiple orders with the potion shops and magical menageries in Diagon Alley, requesting every ingredient Newt had listed----!
This boy was sleeping on the Pyramid of gold galleons, she stated!
----Once the materials arrived, Lucifer, knowing his own created dishes might make Unicorns snort in disgust, didn't even attempt the recipes himself. He handed them over to Parra, yes, one of the Bones family's house-elves, who had recently become Susan's personal cook.
Parra had already inherited most of Hannah's culinary tricks, though she still paled in comparison to Hannah's mother, Madam Abott, the true matriarch of 'magicalcuisine.' Everything Hannah knew, she had learned from her.
Lucifer watched Parra bustle off with the ingredients. Everything was going according to plan.
xxxxxx
Sure enough, this time the little unicorn ate with far more enthusiasm... Its big, sparkling eyes looked at Lucifer with an unmistakable affection, and distance between them had now closed to just a few paces.
It wouldn't be long before that final bit of space disappeared completely.
Even the two adult unicorns had started appearing, but Lucifer made sure not to linger---just a few moments of mutual gazing with the young one before quietly taking his leave.
In his mind, wanting the unicorn to follow him and bond wasn't malicious. It was simply natural. He had nothing to feel guilty about----
As the harshness of winter finally melted away, spring arrived in full bloom. Warmer weather at Hogwarts meant one thing:
Quidditch that got suspended after a couple matches was back.
Snape was practically glowing with satisfaction these days. Lucifer's method for magical ingredient extraction had proven highly effective---minor tweaks to potion ratios led to significantly improved results.
But there was something else that had the Potions Master walking with a spring in his step: he had been rewarded again, named referee for the upcoming Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff!
It was practically like Dumbledore paying him back for lost ingredients.
Only if the man stayed out of this match unlike previous unwanted meddling----
The moment this was announced, the Gryffindor team looked like they were mourning a funeral. Pale faces, slumped shoulders---it was as if someone had died.
Snape again....
The Hufflepuffs, kind and well--mannered as ever, tried to stifle their laughter, but the twitching corners of their mouths betrayed them.
Every time they passed Gryffindors in the corridors, they had to turn their heads away to avoid bursting into giggles.
On match day, Albus Dumbledore's arrival brought visible relief to the Gryffindors. Headmaster hadn't abandoned students, it seems.
Professor Quirrell, upon seeing Dumbledore, turned around immediately and slipped away, pausing only to cast Harry a venomous glare from a shadowed hallway.
Snape didn't look too pleased about the Headmaster's appearance either, but it didn't change his intentions---
He was practically wearing a scowl, what's the point, if he keeps giving cameos in his story? His role as referee was to protect Harry Potter---but no one said he couldn't take a little revenge while he was at it.
Harry, after all, looked exactly like James Potter. And when he soared through the air on his broom, the resemblance became uncanny. To Snape, it was like being haunted by the ghost of a boy who used to smirk at him from a broomstick high above the pitch.
But fate had its own plans. Harry Potter was favourite by those sisters.
Just two fouls into the game---barely enough time for Snape to show favoritism----Harry dove straight past Hufflepuff's Seeker and snatched the Golden Snitch right from under their nose.
Game over.
Lucifer, meanwhile, had been furiously clicking away with his magical camera. The expression on Snape's face was priceless---white as a sheet, lips pressed tight, with a faint trace of blood at the corners of his mouth.
He chuckled. He was absolutely going to frame that photo and send it to Snape as a Christmas present!~
After the match, Lucifer slipped away to the Forbidden Forest like it was his backyard. He had more important things to do---grooming his precious unicorns.
But despite all his efforts, neither Grindelwald's mind in the Nurmengard nor Newt's letter offered any concrete method for helping 'unicorns evolve.'
He'd even considered giving the little unicorn his strength-enhancing elixir---a potion Lucifer'd come to see as a sort of magical multivitamin.
But the moment the unicorn smelled Lucifer's blood inside it, bolted in terror. Its big eyes shimmered with pure fear.
He had no choice but to tuck the potion away and spend several minutes calming the poor thing down before it dared come close again.
xxxxxxx
One day, Hermione noticed Lucifer always went somewhere, after dinner for the past few days.
So, she decided to ask Harry, who also stayed at Hogwarts, during the break, maybe he knew something?
"Harry, I wanted to ask, if you have seen Lucifer going out at night, during the Christ----"
"Hermione, I don't know anything!"
"But, you haven't even listened, wha-
"I really swear! I haven't seen Lucifer hanging out with those Hufflepuffs at all. Please believe me!" After yelling such dangerous words, Harry immediately ran towards the stairs, and went to hide, inside his blanket, honestly.
"....." Hermione. 'It must be those two bimbos again...' She stared at the wand, in her right hand, with a menacing look on her face. 'I should teach... those things, a very hard lesson.... won't even dare to look at my Lucifer again..'
xxxxxxx
This was the very first time Lucifer had spoken to Hagrid directly alone---no, to be precise, it was the first time they had any interaction like that.
Until now, their relationship was more like... two people coming together due to a mutual friend.
Hagrid sometimes would even feel awkward whether to go out of his way to greet the boy or not.
Lucifer didn't wait for an invitation. He stepped right into the hut like he owned the place. The clutter and mess around didn't interest him in the slightest---he made a beeline for the roaring fireplace.
The firewood crackled and popped, sparks jumping into the air, but it didn't distract him. He leaned forward and nodded thoughtfully.
"Not bad.... That's a Norwegian Ridgeback. Quite a powerful breed, even among dragons."
Hagrid's love for dragons momentarily overpowered 'his' fear of Lucifer, his eyes lit up. "A Norwegian Ridgeback? Are you serious?"
"Black shell, glossy like obsidian. Square scaling impressions. What else could it be?" Lucifer replied, raising a brow as if questioning Hagrid's credibility, "You mean to tell me you can't even identify dragon eggs by species? That's 'basic."
In truth, Hagrid had just borrowed an entire stack of dragon-related books from the library and hadn't even started reading to that point to identify, before he barged in.
"Brilliant!" Hagrid beamed. "I love Ridgebacks. They've got such strong builds, and their hides are tough as armor. Just adorable, aren't they?"
"You seem a little too happy," Lucifer said lazily, voice slow but sharp like a blade drawn halfway.
The smile vanished from Hagrid's face instantly. 'Right'. He couldn't trust boy purely, it could also turn into the small matter of the giant criminal offense he was caught in middle of.
"M-Morningstar... what do you want?" Hagrid stammered. The towering half-giant, usually full of booming laughter--now stood there like a scolded child, his voice barely a whisper, "I... I can't sell the egg..."
"Spare me, I won't force you..."
At the fireplace, Lucifer peered into it, nose wrinkling in disgust, "You do realize how critical the incubation temperature... is for dragons, don't you? And you're using a regular fireplace? This might turn out to be the 'weakest dragon' I've ever seen."
Hagrid looked even more pitiful, "But... this is the best I could offer him..."
Lucifer didn't reply. He simply pulled out his wand and extinguished the crackling logs in the fireplace. Hagrid instinctively stepped forward---he thought Lucifer was about to destroy the dragon egg.
But instead, he heard the boy mutter a few quiet incantations. A white flame burst from the tip of Lucifer's wand and settled into the hearth.
The temperature in the room rose sharply. Hagrid stood frozen, staring in awe.
"What kind of fire is that?" he asked, eyes wide.
"Gubraithian Fire," Lucifer said casually. "An Everlasting Flame. Don't touch the fireplace until the dragon is ready to hatch...When the time comes, call me---I'll dispel the fire myself."
And just like that, Lucifer turned and left.
Hagrid, meanwhile, was over the moon. He had heard of 'Gubraithian Fire'---famed in magical lore-but never seen it with his own eyes.
He laughed with joy. But the laughter slowly faded from his lips. Wait a second... wasn't this flame supposed to be incredibly advanced magic? Something only the most elite wizards could conjure? How on earth had Lucifer Morningstar cast it?
Hagrid stood still for a long moment.
Then, with a shudder, muttered to himself, "Yep... just like Dumbled're said, Lucifer'z a monster."
Truth be told, Gubraithian Fire hadn't been Lucifer's first choice. If Dumbledore had conveniently disappeared for a while, he might've risked trying to hatch the dragon using 'Cursed Protego Diabolica'---just to see if it would produce an evil dragon.
Alas, the old recluse hadn't left the castle for weeks.
So, like Quirrell, Lucifer had no choice but to stay low and behave-for now.
xxxxxx
----Morning free time between classes were used with Hermione, guiding her training. Afternoons, Lucifer claimed for himself, doing reading, while she stared at his face from time to time, completing their essays.
When hungry, he simply had Parra deliver their meals.
Parra, now a permanent Hogwarts resident, was essentially the personal chef for both Lucifer and Susan.
Hermione benefited occasionally as well-catching the occasional gourmet meal when she dropped by.
She had also started learning to cook from Hannah Abbott. But lacking the house-elf foundation and time, she hadn't dared showcase anything to Lucifer yet. The last thing she wanted was to disappoint him.
xxxxxx
----Daphne was practically glowing with excitement as she chatted about Astoria's condition.
Thanks to several doses of fortifying potion, her little sister's health had visibly improved. Her stamina now rivaled that of a normal girl her age.
----Her mother stated in the letter, she and Astoria had spent many carefree hours zipping through the Greengrass estate on broomsticks.
But as she spoke, her enthusiasm slowly dimmed.
Just as Lucifer had predicted, potions were only a temporary fix--they treated the symptoms, not the cause.
The curse on Astoria was still very much present. It was like drawing water from a 'half-empty barrel'. For now, the barrel had been refilled---but once potion lost its effect, the draining would resume.
Astoria would eventually return to her frail, sickly state. Still, potions had bought them time. Time to breathe. Time to search for a true cure....
Hermione offered a few words of comfort, and seeing Daphne cheer up a little, decided to shift the topic.
She told her about Hagrid... and the dragon egg.
"He's gone mad, hasn't he?" Daphne exclaimed, eyes wide. "Hatching a dragon at Hogwarts? The Howlers from parents alone could flood the castle!"
Hermione just gave a helpless shrug, "It's not just me---Harry and Weasley twins tried to talk him out of it too. He won't listen to anyone. He 'insists' on hatching it. Whether he plans to keep it or send it away later is still up in the air..."
Daphne thought for a moment, "Well... then let him suffer the consequences. The one who'll be pulling their hair out will be the 'Headmaster', not us. Nothing to do with us students."
Lucifer nodded in agreement, "Exactly. We're just here for the show. You've never seen a dragon hatch before, have you? This is your chance...."
xxxxxxx
Only, Harry turned and saw that, he was looking at the window. So, he immediately ran up to it, and then saw an identifiable head of 'platinum blonde hair!'
Malfoy had seen the dragon egg.
Draco, upon realizing he'd been spotted, bolted. It was a Malfoy family instinct---'never stay in danger longer than absolutely necessary.'
And a punch from a half-giant like Hagrid could very well be fatal, even Granger now seems like a menace.
Hagrid's joy instantly crumbled to dust. There was nothing Harry, Ron, and Hermione could do except offer some clumsy reassurances before heading back to the castle to come up with a real plan.
Lucifer kindly offered to stay behind....Anyone with even a little experience in breaking the law knows the feeling.
The moment your crime gets exposed---your limbs go numb, your brain turns to fog, and you're plunged into icy dread. That's exactly how Hagrid felt now.
It was like fate had come full circle.
Fifty years ago, he was caught raising an Acromantula by someone named Tom Riddle... and got expelled from Hogwarts for it.
If it hadn't been for Dumbledore stepping in to protect him, he'd have been thrown out completely. Thanks to that, he was allowed to stay on as Hogwarts' gamekeeper.
Now, fifty years later, Draco Malfoy had shown up, he had caught Hagrid raising a magical creature in secret.
'Thud!'
It was like the strength and bones were sucked clean out of Hagrid's body. He collapsed with a crash so heavy it cracked the floorboards.
Lucifer actually winced---it sounded painful.
'----Hagrid, bless him, had a fragile heart. Like they always said--dogs take after their owners, and in this case, it seemed true. Just the word Dementor had practically liquefied him. Maybe, I shouldn't have mentioned that.'
"I can't go to Azkaban," Hagrid muttered over and over. "I can't go to Azkaban..."
"Aren't we both Gryffindor's, Hagrid," Lucifer now looked far more approachable, even a touch friendly, "And you know what Gryffindor' value most? Loyalty to friends, If you can be useful to me... then we might just become friends, no?"
Hagrid grumbled under his breath, "That's not what friendship means..."
But the moment Lucifer gave him a chilly look, he quickly changed his tune.
"Alright, alright. I want to be your friend, Morningstar. I mean... Lucifer. But what do you need from me? If it's turning on 'Dumbledore' you want, forget it. I'd rather go to Azkaban."
Surprisingly, Hagrid's brain actually functioned for once--he laid out his bottom line clearly.
Lucifer just looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "What are you on about? Why would I ask you to betray the Headmaster? Are you writing some kind of drama in your head?"
"Then... what would stop all this?" Hagrid asked cautiously, he was warned by Ron, that Morningstar was a snake, through and through.
Lucifer glanced at the dragon egg, "Well, seeing as you managed to get your hands on a dragon egg, you clearly have your ways. I need certain potion ingredients and magical herbs. If you can gather everything on my list, not only will I let this slide... I'll even deal with Malfoy for you."
"Wait-'that's it?" Hagrid asked, flabbergasted. Potion ingredients and herbs? That stuff was practically lying around the Forbidden Forest. Was that all Morningstar wanted?
He had no clue how difficult this would be for anyone else. It wasn't just about the magical creatures and dangers inside the forest--just navigating the terrain and knowing where to find rare ingredients was a massive undertaking.
'Honestly, apart from Hagrid, maybe only Newt Scamander could stroll through the Forest like it was his own backyard....'
Lucifer pulled over a piece of parchment and a quill from the table and began jotting down a list. He didn't stop writing for five full minutes.
When he finally handed it over, Hagrid scanned it and sighed in relief.
Most of these were things he could 'find' in the Forest. For the rare ones, he had contacts in Knockturn Alley. He could barter using forest goods--no big deal.
"I'll pay you bonus for it, don't worry."
"...Alright. Give me a few days and I'll have everything for you."
Lucifer held up three fingers.
"You've got 'three' days. After that, I want everything on that list--top quality only. If you try and pass off second-rate garbage...get ready to see Dumbledore's disappointed face."
Hagrid nodded furiously. For the sake of his dragon baby, he'd do anything.
Truth be told, what Lucifer really wanted was Acromantula venom. The emphasis on quality was his way of hinting at Hagrid to go see them.
He had been too busy lately, spending most of his time bonding with the unicorn---Any time he bumped into Acromantulas, they were too young to harvest anything useful. Outsourcing to Hagrid was simply efficient. And once he did it once, he'd get used to it.
Lucifer stood, brushing imaginary dust off his robes. Hagrid, assuming he was leaving, began to relax.
xxxxxx
Meanwhile, on Draco Malfoy's side of the castle, things were taking an interesting turn.
Ever since he got 'dirt' on Harry Potter, Draco had been strutting around like the king of the school. He made sure to repeatedly cross paths with Harry, each time throwing him a sinister smirk and drinking in the panicked look on his face.
----Hermione hated the smug look on Malfoy's face every time, she caught the Slytherin looking over at them, and wanted to punch it right off of his face, every time he got close.
Malfoy himself, didn't even realize how bizarre it all looked to Crabbe and Goyle.
From their perspective... it looked like Draco was 'flirting.'
But Draco was doing no such thing. He was tormenting Harry-gleefully dangling the threat of exposure over his head. He was going to keep Harry in a state of constant anxiety and dread... and then report everything.
That way, both that insufferable Potter and that oaf Hagrid would get what they 'deserved.'
At least, that had been Draco's plan.
Until three days later.
Three days was all it took for Hagrid to gather everything Lucifer had asked for. They met back at the hut to make the exchange.
He examined the haul carefully, nodding in approval.
The ingredients were all high-quality, especially the Acromantula venom. It was a level above anything Lucifer had gotten before.
"No issues," he said, casting a 'Shrinking Charm' on the hefty burlap sack and slipping it into his pocket.
"I'll keep this to myself. No one else will know---except Hermione and Daphne. Once the dragon hatches, I'll bring them to see it."
He paused. "As for 'Malfoy... I'll make sure he gets the message."
"Thank you, Lucifer!" Hagrid said warmly. "If you ever need more ingredients, just let me know!"
"I will," Lucifer replied. And he meant it. He wasn't going to pretend politeness. This was the only value Hagrid had to offer him, he paid the man for efforts, who declined first, but then had to accept the pouch of Galleons--well, he did.
xxxxxx
"Rosier," Lucifer called out to a student howling with laughter over a joke book, "do you know where Malfoy is?"
Rosier immediately stopped laughing and scrambled to remember. "I think I heard him tell Goyle something about... going to the West Tower to throw rocks at birds?"
"Bring him to me." With a wave of his hand, Lucifer slouched into a nearby armchair.
Rosier practically tripped over himself nodding, and fearing he wouldn't be able to find Malfoy alone, dragged a half-asleep Nott and Zabini from the dorms to help with the search.
-----Half an hour later, a very nervous Draco Malfoy was standing before Lucifer.
And soon after, Lucifer took him aside into one of the empty rooms. That made Draco even more nervous.
What was going on? Was Morningstar finally going to settle old scores? But that couldn't be it. Their last run--in was last year, and things had been quiet since then. Draco hadn't even dared to bother Daphne or Hermione afterward. 'This didn't make sense.'
Then, Lucifer spoke.
"Malfoy. I know about the dragon."
In an instant, Draco's panic faded, relief flooding his features. 'So that wasit!' He lit up, nearly bouncing with excitement, "Morningstar, are you planning to tell Professor Snape? I knew you had brains, say you wait. Right now, it's just an egg.... Once it hatches into a full-grown dragon, the punishment will be so much worse. In the meantime, I get to keep messing with Potter a little longer!"
Lucifer's expression didn't change, "You're not telling anyone about the dragon."
The smile vanished from Draco's face, "What?!" he snapped, forgetting his fear for a moment. "Why not?!"
Lucifer raised two fingers, "First--Hagrid bought my silence. I'm being paid..."
Draco turned red with rage.
Lucifer ignored it and continued, "Second... even if you do tell someone, it won't cause any real damage."
"That's not true! Professor Snape would dock loads of points from you Gryffindor!"
"Maybe," Lucifer said smoothly, "but Dumbledore will protect them... He doesn't care about small infractions, but when it's something this 'serious-borderline' illegal-you can bet he'll go all in for Hagrid and Potter."
Draco hesitated. 'I don't know about Potter, but Hagrid... Hagrid is definitely Dumbledore's lapdog. If the Headmaster got involved, even serious crimes would probably be brushed under the rug.... It's infuriating. When would Slytherin finally rise above this constant Gryffindor-Dumbledore oppression?'
Lucifer saw the fury brewing in Draco's face and offered a slight consolation.
"I didn't say you couldn't use the information," he said gently, "Just don't tell the professors--or anyone else. But if you want to keep scaring Potter with it? Dropping dragon hints every few days? Be my guest. That should be enough to keep you entertained...."
Draco thought about it. Honestly... these last few days had been kind of fun. 'If I kept it between us, I could keep torturing Potter for weeks.'
"...I guess that works too," he muttered.
Not a total loss. Not yet.
In the end, torn between the temptation of teasing Harry and the oppressive might of Lucifer's will, Draco Malfoy surrendered.
Lucifer smiled and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
"A wise man submits to the circumstances, Draco. You've made the right choice."
Malfoy forced out a tight, reluctant smile.
"Oh, don't look so miserable," Lucifer chuckled. "Sure, you've lost one chance to get revenge on Potter---but in return, you've earned my friendship. No more sleepless nights worrying about past.... unpleasantness. I'd say that's a much 'betterdeal', wouldn't you?"
Draco gave a small nod. In truth, this was the first time he'd felt genuine relief. Up till now, every time he saw Morningstar, he'd get that tight, nervous feeling in his chest-like he was one step from disaster.
But now, Lucifer owed him a favor. That old grudge between them? Consider it paid.
Finally, Draco could interact with him like a normal person---no longer treading on eggshells. Whistling a carefree tune, Malfoy took his leave.
Lucifer, having completed his side of the deal, turned his attention to the pile of ingredients Hagrid had delivered. It was time to sort them into proper categories.
xxxxxx
"Any day by now...."
Hermione and Daphne exchanged glances, and just like that, their interest was piqued. A dragon hatching... now that was something you didn't get to see every day.
Lucifer's prediction was right.
The very next morning, he and Harry received notes from Hagrid-delivered via owl. The message was short. Just four words: 'It's almost hatching.'
That was it.
Hermione was instantly distracted. She couldn't focus at all during 'History of Magic', constantly shifting in her seat and peering out the window every few seconds--eyes darting toward Hagrid's hut, terrined she might miss the big moment.
The second Professor Sprout dismissed them, she grabbed Lucifer by the hand and dashed out of the classroom.
Daphne was already waiting at the exit, full of energy, together, they raced out of the castle and down to the familiar wooden cabin-----
Two eager Gryffindors---just dismissed from Herbology---were already approaching. Hagrid, beaming, welcomed the two of them inside.
The mood, however, was a little awkward. The moment they stepped in, saw Lucifer standing between Hermione and Daphne----
The room now felt distinctly divided for the newcomers, and thought, they couldn't join or step in their circle.
----Hagrid had spun quite the tale for Harry and Ron: that Lucifer had silenced Malfoy, and Hagrid had offered him materials and visitation rights in exchange for his help.
It was... a masterclass in storytelling. A shift from "I got caught" to "I made a strategic trade." Much easier on the pride, and newborn friendship.
Things between Harry and Lucifer were... fine. 'Civil good friends'. If Ron hadn't been there, they might've even chatted openly, but Ron was there.
There was heavy tension.
----Ever since the troll incident before Halloween, things between Ron and Hermione had been frozen solid.
She didn't feel she had done anything wrong, and had no interest in making amends. Ron, who often felt invisible, only saw Hermione growing closer to the Slytherins---and took it very personally.
But Harry? He saw it clearly. Hermione wasn't "cozying up" to all of Slytherin. She was just close to Daphne Greengrass, through Lucifer's contacts, who was changed from Slytherin to Gryffindor. 'Private friendships.'
Didn't mean betraying house loyalty, Lucifer was in Gryffindor', Dumbledore's help or not.
Harry could not even imagine a Muggle-born in Slytherin, and the life it would have been, while Ron insisted, Lucifer was some long lost child of 'Death Eater pure-blood', Sorting hat couldn't be wrong, and his powerful magic more or less confirmed it.
Ron's views were clear, a Muggle wizard couldn't be that strong. Naturally, it 'irked' Hermione, who was one, and their atmosphere worsened.
'Honestly, all the points Lucifer had earned for Gryffindor probably outweighed the entire first-year class combined---- Same goes for Hermione, who was second, no one else had the right to criticize who she befriended.'
Harry thought silently. Still... Ron was his best mate. There were some things he just couldn't say. So he kept quiet.
Hagrid, oblivious to the tension, turned to Lucifer with a hopeful look.
"I heard cracking noises this morning--do you think it's time to take the egg out?"
Lucifer raised his wand and, with a gentle wave, absorbed the Gubraithian Fire back into it. Hagrid hurriedly fetched a tray and carefully set the dragon egg on the dining table.
Hermione and Daphne gave each other a look. This whole setup... looked suspiciously like they were about to 'eat' it.
There were visible cracks across the eggshell, and every few seconds, it gave a little twitch. Everyone held their breath, eyes locked on the egg, afraid even a whisper might disturb the newborn.
Then-'crack!'

A sharp, splitting noise echoed through the room as the egg burst open. A tiny dragon, slimy and black, emerged with a bit of the shell still perched on its head. It swayed, confused, letting out a weird, squeaky noise.
Hermione and Daphne both made the same face at the same time. Disgust.
The baby dragon was 'ugly'. Wrinkled, oily, charcoal-colored-like a soggy, folded-up umbrella. Its body proportions were so off, it wasn't even 'ugly-cute'. It was just... gross. With warty bumps along its back, it looked like something out of a potion gone wrong.
But Hagrid's eyes were sparkling.
"Isn't it beautiful? It's just perfect!"
He reached out, trying to stroke its head-only for the hatchling to bare its teeth and shy away, tiny sparks of flame puffing from its nostrils.
Hagrid blinked, confused.
The little dragon clumsily twisted its body and turned to stare at Lucifer.
It took a few cautious steps toward him... then yelped, retreated, and curled its wings over its head in fear, trembling. It clearly wanted to get close---but was too scared.
Everyone looked baffled.
"...Come here, you."
Lucifer scooped the baby dragon up without hesitation. Holding it in his arms, he gave it a gentle rub.
Despite the ugly exterior, it was surprisingly soft. Its skin felt like a warm, rubbery dumpling, and even the scales hadn't hardened yet.
The dragon gave a tiny purring noise, finally relaxing in his arms. Its instincts told it clearly---this boy didn't mean harm.
It melted into Lucifer's touch. And he knew exactly why. He had slain 'Heaven's Mighty Dragons'----in The Great War, that alone had marked him with the aura of Dragon Slayer.
Back in the day, his presence alone could send normal dragons fleeing hundreds of miles away.
As for why the baby dragon wanted to be close to him--that was because the 'Gubraithian Fire' that hatched it had been conjured by Lucifer. That fire was infused with his magic, making him, in a sense... 'itsmagical mother.'
The combination of these two opposing forces---slayer and surrogate was exactly why the little dragon was caught between awe and fear.
Luckily, since he was a eleven year old now, the "slayer" aura wasn't particularly overpowering. In the end, affection triumphed over fear.
Meanwhile, Hagrid was already staring at him like he'd witnessed a miracle. If he'd read even a bit more in his life, his brain would've been screaming right now:
"It's real! There's a beast here! A true beast!"
After playing with the baby dragon for a while, Lucifer quickly grew bored. He offered it to girls to hold, but both gave firm looks of distaste.
The novelty had worn off.
Daphne even took out her magical camera and snapped a few pictures. Once that was done, neither of them had much interest left in the dragon.
So, Lucifer simply took them with him and left the hut ---leaving only Harry and Ron behind with Hagrid.
Only after the others were gone did the atmosphere feel less suffocating.
"Are you really not going to send the dragon away, Hagrid?" Harry asked, watching the hatchling devour raw beef after having already crunched down its eggshell.
Hagrid was still basking in the joy of getting his "beast" back. He wasn't thinking about consequences at all. He simply mumbled a few dismissive responses. Seeing that Hagrid had no intention of listening to reason, Harry could only sigh----
The following week was absolute torment for him.
The baby dragon now named 'Norbert' was growing like a balloon pumped full of hot air. Every day Harry worried about Hagrid being found out, and at the same time, had to deal with Malfoy's threats.
Though Hagrid had told him that Lucifer had already warned Malfoy and there'd be no issues, Harry had no idea what kind of status he held in Slytherin. He couldn't bring himself to believe 'Malfoy would really' back off.
Eventually, after a lot of pushing from Harry and Ron, Hagrid finally agreed to send Norbert away to none other than Charlie Weasley, Ron's older brother who worked at a dragon sanctuary in Romania.
Lucifer, for his part, never returned to Hagrid's hut after the first visit.
He had something far cuter to keep him busy--- 'the baby unicorn!'
Now, he could play with the little creature in his arms, maybe it was because the unicorn was too young to understand what----"acknowledgment and following" truly meant. Or maybe, it was simply because the two of them weren't meant to have a 'master-servant' bond at all.
Little Unicorn: Don't get the wrong idea. We're just... really good friends.
Too damn aloof, Lucifer growled inwardly. Fuming, he gave the baby unicorn a very aggressive head rub.
"Uuuh~?"
The baby unicorn blinked her big doe-eyes in confusion, looking at Lucifer with a tilted head as if to say: What did I do?
He didn't respond to her. Instead, he turned to the adult unicorn nearby, calmly nibbling on leaves like nothing in the world could 'bother her'
The little one might not get it-- but the big one had to be smarter, right?
And indeed, she was. The adult unicorn already understood Lucifer's intentions. But that didn't mean she 'cared.' They had food, water, and decent relationships with other magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest. Why on earth would they swear fealty to a human?
So the mindset was simple: freeloading. If Lucifer brought treats, she'd eat them. If not? No problem. She wouldn't 'starve' anyway.
What she needed, clearly, was a taste of the real world. And soon enough, it came.
One Wednesday, a male unicorn was found dead in the Forbidden Forest.
By the time Lucifer arrived, the silvery blood had already dried. The adult and baby unicorn were both visibly shaken.
"You see that?" He said, pointing at the blood stains, "Still think the Forbidden Forest is so safe? If you're gonna roam around here, you better have some protection. Some status. Some connections...."
He stared down the adult unicorn.
"You two are out here alone. Just 'motherand daughter'. What if someone else decides to come after you next, huh?"
"Uuuh~!" The adult unicorn's cry was heart-wrenching.
"I've already placed a tracking spell on your daughter. If anything happens to her, I'll know instantly. But you? Who's gonna save you?"
Lucifer leaned in and unleashed his final move, "Madam... you wouldn't want anything to happen to you and leave your little girl all 'alone' in the world, would you?"
Unicorns were smart. She understood every word. Her expression turned hesitant. In the end, survival instinct won over pride.
She slowly bent her front legs, lowered her head, and submitted. Lucifer etched his magical mark onto the adult unicorn.
In his mindscape, a light glimmered faintly not as brightly as the first, but it was a clear sign of progress. There was now a seed of allegiance....
If a true crisis came and Lucifer stepped in again, he'd likely complete his first ever "Unicorn bonding" once and for all. Pleased with his success, he returned to the castle.
Coincidentally, Harry was also in a great mood--because Hagrid had finally agreed to let 'Norbert' go.
Hermione now alone here stared at this Ridgeback, who wasn't as little as he once was just five days ago. Smoke kept rising from its nostrils.
Hagrid's game-keeping duties had fallen behind due to the Dragon, keeping him occupied. There were empty bottles of brandy and chicken feathers strewn about the floor....
Hagrid really did care for it, but that didn't mean, this was a good thing for him, "He really knows me now, watch. Norbert! Norbert! Where's Mummy?"
"He's really lost his marbles," Hermione muttered to no one particularly, "Lucifer says, Norbert is a girl...." And, tried to correct him for the umpteenth time.
----But Hagrid, just ignored what the bushy haired girl had to say, the giant had misty eyes as he looked at Norbert.
Hermione was already going bonkers, just after imagining this horror if got exposed, and she even mentally berated herself for letting herself near this mess.
xxxxxx
Charlie had replied to Ron's letter. Though he couldn't come in person, some of his friends from the Romanian sanctuary would fly in to pick up the dragon.
In just one week, 'Norbert' had undergone a drastic transformation. He was growing rapidly and becoming more and more aggressive.
Ron had even gotten bitten--his arm swelled up like an aubergine.
When Madam Pomfrey asked about the wound, he insisted it was a dog bite. But the skeptical look in her eyes said she wasn't buying it.
Still, she didn't press the issue. The bizarre ways Hogwarts students managed to hurt themselves were just too varied for her to keep up with. She simply handed Ron an antidote and some anti-swelling bandages before sending him on his way.
xxxxxx
Later in the middle of the night, Hermione woke up and quietly made her way towards the boys dorm, just like usual.
She can't help but look at the sleeping figure of Lucifer, who smiled at her, before going to his room. This girl was really mesmerised, and couldn't help, but just stare at his face.....
He was very busy sleeping, but the night clothes have already been removed, and pushed aside.
Lucifer was lying, stretched out in a blissful manner, those arms resting above his head, snoring deeply.
He should definitely not be waking up for a while... It would be much better to say, Hermione had done her best, to make sure, he wouldn't.
His chest gently rises and falls, breathing is regular, Lucifer's thoughts and dreams far away.
'I want to stroke him.'
'I want to kiss him.'
Hermione, moved very slowly towards his bed, and occupied the space between his legs, just like every other night.
The boy did not move. 'Good'
Very softly, she started to touch his toes, in a soothing fashion, hardly any contact. Lucifer started to mutter in his sleep, but his regular breathing continued.
Then, she crawled upwards lightly, and her hand gently ran above his thighs, and, then paused to look at his sleeping cock.
----Hermione's pulse quickened, but she just breathed deeply, stayed still, kept silent and just continued to look.
Then, reached out carefully to run one finger over Lucifer's balls, in response, his body gave a slight start in his sleep, but then relaxed once more.
She continued to gently massage, enjoying the feel of this soft vulnerable area. ---She paused her lewd actions, then lightly kissed his genitals, running her tongue over his balls, while listening to Lucifer's breathing quickened slightly.
'Even though, I don't know, what Daddy's imagining about....'
'I just hope, he is having a nice dream.'
While Hermione was busy thinking, she sensed him beginning to stiffen.
That's why, she just continued with her tongue strokes, teasing, hardly touching, pleasing the boy, whilst he sleeps.
Lucifer gave a little moan, so Hermione also paused her tongue, and waited for him to relax again.
She couldn't just take the high risk of going wild, because, who knows, if her spell broke in the middle of her dinner?
It would really be terrible, if Lucifer.... Hermione, stopped imagining, these dreadful things altogether, and focused more to get her fill instead.
She was really hungry, and the dinner served at Great Hall, not tasty at all!
When Hermione felt, that Lucifer was fully asleep once again, she lowered her head to his semi-erect cock.
Then, licked the end of it lightly, running her tongue near the rim, kissing it from top to bottom with tiny butterfly kisses.
Lucifer must hardly be able to feel this, but she did not wish him to wake.
---His cock stiffened even more, while Hermione reached out and stroked it, making it really hard and keen for her. She lowered her head slowly, and took it inside her mouth, then ran her tongue around the tip as she massaged gently with her wet soft mouth.
Lucifer let out another little moan, but she thought he was still asleep.
----Then, Hermione began to taste him as she continued to devour him with her mouth.
While doing that, she cupped his balls with both of her petite hands and rolled them around, one hand on each side, slow soft circular strokes.
She felt his balls, started to become alive, it's like air was being filled inside. 'This is good....'
It made her think, Lucifer was also excited, with her actions, maybe having a great dream.
She continued to stroke, to lick, to taste him. Lucifer's breathing quickened, his legs parted a little of their own accord.
Hermione could now taste his juices, while feeling his balls contracting.
That's why, she continued to lick his cock, stroke his balls with one hand, and with the other.... she began to explore further, very curious, as his legs were now apart.
She previously wanted to smack Lucifer's arsecheeks, but now, she brushed his tight opening with her exploring hand.
He's really whimpering now, but Hermione didn't stop her actions, even though she felt, moving her finger inside was very hard work.
'Maybe, I should use a little water, next time?....'
There was a lot of work, but it didn't make Hermione stop, and inserted her finger a little more and slowly began to play with him, at the same time, not forgetting to stroke and lick.
'He is going to leak soon I think.....'
Lucifer's balls were now very firm, while his legs busy trembling, as Hermione continued to fuck him in his sleep.
Her tongue and mouth, even became more fierce, as she gained confidence, and used to perform multiple tasks at the same time.
She inserted a second finger and felt him 'shudder' with pleasure.
'It will not be long now,' Hermione continued to finger fuck his arse, and eat Lucifer's cock, while cupping his balls safely in one hand.
His body went rigid for a moment, and cried out in his sleep, which made Hermione quite shaken for a moment---and pushed her fingers deep into his arse, by mistake.
But, it didn't stop, Lucifer to cum fiercely and hard into her mouth.
Only, the bushy-haired girl, didn't stop her licking, and swallowed all his juices. 'I must not leave any evidence behind!'
'Daddy must not know, I was here!'
Hermione kept his cock inside her mouth for several minutes until it stopped throbbing and seeping cum.
Then, she slowly and gently pulled away, easing her fingers out of him, and just relaxed down, to watch him for a moment.
Lucifer's breathing had become deep and regular once more, his cock started to become limp.
So, Hermione also decided to relax her throat muscles, and felt her breathing to become normal, "It's clean, right?"
She looked over at his crotch, to make sure, nothing was odd, but Hermione, wanted to delete even a 0.0001% chance of being found out.
That's why, she decided to lick him up, once more.
After that, Hermione pecked Lucifer on the forehead, quietly standing up, tip-toed to the door, opened it gently and left, without making a noise.
"Ohm..!"
It's just she made a little burped noise, while moving towards the girl's dormitory, this made her face go red in shame, and hurriedly ran away.
xxxxx
The next day, during breakfast,
after being incredibly excited upon returning to her room, the night before, Hermione slept well until morning.
She tried to refocus her mind to the present, Hermione had already finished her eggs. Then, moved the plate aside and reached out for the glass of juice, she poured herself earlier.
But, Hermione could feel someone approaching from behind and then sat down beside her, as she's busy sipping her orange juice, "Morning"
"Did you sleep well?" She talked, without making eye contact.
"I did," Lucifer replied, with a nice smile on his face, while looking directly into her chocolate-brown eyes.
The bushy-haired girl, found herself lifting her head to look directly, but shyly at him, "I had the most wonderful dream," his voice was very elegant, and then started to fill his own place with a toast.
'Oh, god, Daddy was really asleep wasn't he?!' Hermione felt herself going scarlet to her neck, while picking-up her juice once more and trying to think about the day ahead, but then found herself smiling too.
'Perhaps the day will become more interesting...'
Harry went to check on Ron who, despite getting him to Madam Pomfrey as soon as possible, still had an enlarged hand, which she was unable to stop.
"I would've had to come straight here the moment Norbert bit me," Ron said miserably.
"Don't worry, and I will try my best to give you a summary of all the important aspects of classes and bring you that and the homework once the afternoon hits," Harry had said to him with a smile.
Even though, he knew it was just a way, of trying to calm a panicking Ron down.
xxxxxx
The following morning again, when Harry went to see him, he told him that Malfoy had stopped by, asking Madam Pomfrey if he could borrow one of Ron's books, he also threatened to tell Pomfrey what really bit him, while giving an evil laugh.
"Don't worry, it'll be over at midnight this Saturday, and we can put Norbert and Malfoy far out of our minds then," He said, which improved Ron's mood a bit.
It sank immediately, "Oh no! The book Malfoy took... it had the letter to Charlie in it! He's going to know that we are getting rid of Norbert!"
Before Harry could react, Madam Pomfrey came over and made him leave, saying he was causing Ron distress.
Harry didn't argue and decided to just leave.
After explaining everything to his other two friends. Harry spoke up, "It's too late to change the plan now. We haven't got any time... to send another Owl to Charlie and this could be our only chance to rid ourselves of Norbert. We'll have to risk it, and we do have the Cloak, Malfoy doesn't know about that."
xxxxxx
Before classes had a chance to start, Hermione picked up Lucifer, and went to see Hagrid.
But found Fang the Boarhound sitting outside with a bandaged tail. Lucifer knelt down and scratched and patted the dog, who was wagging his tail, despite the pain it was causing him.
Hermione was secretly looking jealous and hoped that, it didn't show on her face.
"That Dragon has to go..." he said, feeling sympathetic for the boarhound.
Hagrid's eyes were filled with tears, but that also could've been because Norbert had just bitten him on the leg.
"Argh! It's all right, he just got me in the boot - jus' playin' he's only a baby after all."
That baby then banged its tail on the wall, causing the windows to rattle, and Fang began to shake in fear.
"Only a baby... only a dangerous, vicious, fanged baby..." Hermione stood up and walked back to the Castle with Lucifer, being sorry all the way, for bringing him there.
Saturday really couldn't arrive soon enough.
xxxxxx
Finally, the day of the handoff arrived.
Under cover of the Invisibility Cloak, Harry and Ron carried the crate holding Norbert up to the top of the Astronomy Tower.
Several broomsticks sliced through the night sky--- descending silently before them.
Charlie's friends came in a group of four, each straddling a broomstick and cloaked in dark hoods. As they landed, the first thing they did was turn to Ron.
"You must be Charlie's little brother."
Ron scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. With that unmistakable Weasley red hair, it wasn't exactly hard to tell.
"This is Harry. Harry Potter."
Instantly, all attention shifted from Ron's hair to the iconic 'lightning' shaped scar on Harry's forehead.
Faced with four awe-struck adult wizards, Harry responded with a polite but visibly tired look, clearly unamused at being gawked at like a museum exhibit.
Fortunately, the journey had gone off without a hitch. They had successfully dodged Filch and his prowling cat, Mrs. Norris, which meant no safety issues.
Harry began to relax and chatted with the group about how Charlie was doing at the dragon sanctuary.
"Honestly? Not great," One of them replied, half-joking and half-sympathetic, "Poor bloke's got the worst luck. Just a few months into the job and bam-dragon breakout. Over that, Can you even believe, he saw a new 'Minotaur high intelligencespecies' digging up from under the ground----cause of the chaos to capture it, that thing ended up all the way in Germany and got killed by a Dark wizard?"
"Minotaur, like a bull that could talk?! And, one guy even killed the lot?" Harry and Ron's eyes nearly popped out.
"Yup," the man nodded grimly. "Still don't know who he is. Covered his tracks perfectly. The whole reserve is on high alert now, patrolling around the clock. It's been hell."
Harry and Ron exchanged uneasy glances.
They used to think Charlie had the coolest job ever. Now... it sounded like hard, thankless work. Just glorified dragon chow.
After some more small talk, the four dragon handlers got down to business. They securely tied up Norbert's crate using several enchanted ropes. Each broom tugged one rope taut, suspending the crate in mid-air like a magical sky sled.
Harry thanked them profusely and watched as they lifted off into the night sky.
But Norbert had other ideas.
Sensing he was being taken away from home into unfamiliar territory, the baby dragon began to thrash violently within the crate. If he'd been hatched from ordinary fire, he'd still be weak and premature.
----But this wasn't an ordinary dragon. This was a dragon born of Gubraithian Fire-stronger, quicker to mature, and far more intense in his fire.
The handlers had barely flown more than a few dozen meters before they felt an intense heat behind them. In horror, they looked back to see the crate exploding into splinters, searing flames bursting out and burning through the ropes, licking dangerously close to their brooms!
"ROAAARRRR!"
The dragon's cry tore through the still night, shrill and unrestrained. Though it didn't reach the depths of the Forbidden Forest, the echo reached the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor towers loud and clear.
"A DRAGON! It's a fire-breathing dragon!"
1 Extra Chapter - 200 Power Stone's!
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Author's Note
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It is also mentioned in the bio.