Chapter 77: The Nobeta Who Loves Tanks
Hagrid stared blankly at the small dragon curled comfortably in Audrey's arms, his expression frozen somewhere between disbelief and awe.
"It's… a girl?"
"Yes," Audrey replied lightly, a hint of amusement in her voice. "If anything, calling her Nobeta would suit her better."
Hagrid smacked his forehead with a loud thud—far harder than necessary—and staggered slightly from the impact.
"Oh Merlin, I'm an idiot!"
"Not really," Audrey said, gently setting Nobeta down as the little dragon immediately clung back to her leg, whining for attention. "You just lack experience."
She crouched slightly, scratching the dragon's chin again before glancing up.
"You said you needed my help—what exactly do you want me to do?"
Hagrid shook his head vigorously, as if trying to reset his brain.
"That brat—Draco Malfoy—he found out I've been raising her," Hagrid muttered anxiously. "He's bound to report me sooner or later. Ron's arranged for his brother Charlie to take Nobeta away—he works at a dragon reserve—but… she's growing too fast. I won't be able to keep her hidden much longer."
His voice became increasingly jumbled as he spoke.
"They're planning to send her off from the Astronomy Tower in a week. I'm worried Harry and the others won't be able to handle her… and if Filch catches them—"
Audrey blinked.
"So you want me to escort Nobeta with them?"
"Yes! Yes, that's it!" Hagrid said eagerly. "Can you help?"
For a moment, Audrey said nothing—then suddenly laughed.
Nobeta, not understanding why, chirped happily and puffed out a few sparks in response.
"Hagrid," Audrey said at last, "first, Malfoy won't be a problem. I'll deal with him. Second…"
She raised her hand.
A faint distortion twisted the air—and with a soft whoosh, a suitcase appeared in her palm.
"I have a better solution."
Hagrid's eyes widened.
"This… is her new home."
He leaned forward, astonished. "That's incredible magic!"
"It's just a simple combination of summoning and spatial transfer," Audrey replied casually.
She flipped the suitcase open and, without hesitation, stepped inside with Nobeta in her arms. A second later, she poked her head back out.
"Hagrid, come in."
Hagrid hesitated, glancing at the suitcase.
"Well… I'm not exactly small, y'know. I don't think I'll fit—"
"The belt is flying."
Before he could react, Hagrid let out a startled yell as an invisible force yanked him forward—dragging him straight into the suitcase.
In that moment, the similarity between Hagrid and Nobeta became quite clear.
They both made very loud noises when surprised.
Inside, Hagrid froze.
The space stretched endlessly—wide as several football fields. In one corner sat a massive aircraft… and beside it, four imposing tanks.
Audrey casually waved her hand, shifting the machines aside as if they weighed nothing.
"What… what are those?" Hagrid asked, stunned.
"Oh, just Muggle transportation," Audrey replied.
Hagrid stared in awe. "Those must weigh tons… and you moved them like toys! Merlin's beard… your magic is extraordinary. You're one of the strongest wizards I've ever seen."
He continued muttering in admiration about prodigies and greatness, but Audrey had already turned her attention back to Nobeta.
She placed the dragon gently onto the ground.
"Norwegian Ridgebacks prefer seaside cliffs…" she murmured, thinking. "So let's give you something similar."
With a subtle shift of magic, the environment transformed.
A damp sea breeze swept across the space. Dark clouds gathered overhead, rumbling faintly as if a storm were about to break.
"Nobeta, you'll have to make do for now. I'll improve it later."
She turned—
—and froze.
Nobeta had completely ignored the "seaside habitat."
Instead, the little dragon had run straight toward a T-80 tank and was chirping excitedly at it.
"…Really?"
Hagrid chuckled, delighted. "Looks like she likes that big thing!"
Nobeta attempted to climb onto the tank—
—and promptly smacked face-first into the tracks.
Hagrid burst out laughing and lifted her up, placing her on top.
Normally, Nobeta would protest loudly at being picked up—but this time, she remained perfectly still, clearly fascinated.
"What a good girl!"
Audrey pressed a hand to her forehead.
With a flick of her wrist, the tank rose slightly into the air and drifted toward the artificial storm clouds—Nobeta riding proudly on top like a tiny conqueror.
Hagrid ran after it, laughing like a child, his enormous frame bouncing with joy.
Audrey watched in silence.
"…Does having 'Beta' in your name mean you have to drive tanks?"
She paused.
"…At least Vegeta never did this."
---
Later that day, in the Slytherin common room—
"Cousin, what did you want?" Draco Malfoy asked, slightly out of breath as he hurried over.
Audrey leaned back lazily on the sofa.
"I heard you're planning to report Rubeus Hagrid for keeping a dragon."
Draco lifted his chin smugly.
"I like dragons, so I won't report him for that," he said. "But Potter and the others? That's a different story. I'll pressure them until they slip up—then catch them red-handed."
Audrey raised an eyebrow.
"My little cousin's getting smarter."
Then she waved a hand dismissively.
"Drop it."
Draco blinked. "Why?"
"Because that dragon is mine now."
Draco froze.
"…What?"
His eyes suddenly lit up with excitement.
"Cousin—can I see it?"
"You're too loud," Audrey said coldly. "If anyone finds out who I really am, I won't hesitate."
Draco immediately shrank back.
He believed her.
Completely.
After all, the reputation of Hydra Lestrange wasn't exactly comforting.
Still—
"…What about the dragon?" he asked carefully.
Audrey stood.
"Come with me."
Pansy Parkinson watched Draco follow Audrey toward the girls' dormitory—and snapped her fork in half.
"That vixen…!" she hissed.
Without hesitation, she stood up.
"Daphne! Pack my things!"
Meanwhile—
Draco stepped into the girls' dormitory for the first time, glancing around curiously.
"…It's not that different from the boys' side."
That illusion shattered the moment Audrey opened her room.
Gold.
Everywhere.
Galleons, artifacts, antiques—piled high like a dragon's hoard. Even the bed was half-buried beneath treasure.
Draco stared, speechless.
So the rumors were true.
She really was the richest witch in the wizarding world.
"…Cousin," he said slowly, "the dragon?"
Audrey opened the suitcase again and stepped inside.
"Come on," she said over her shoulder. "I'll show you something far more interesting."
"A real treasure."