Chapter 216: I Have a Better Option
Ron was genuinely terrified. The moment he found out that Hagrid had been keeping an Acromantula, he no longer cared about the dragon and wanted nothing more than to hurry back to the safety of the castle.
As long as he could leave this spider-infested place, even if it meant spending half the day writing essays, he'd do it without complaint.
But this simple wish went unfulfilled.
Harry and Hermione were still deep in conversation with Hagrid, tirelessly listing every reason they could think of to convince him to let Norbert go. Leaving wasn't an option for them yet.
Ron briefly considered abandoning Harry and Hermione to return to the castle alone, but he quickly dismissed the thought—it would only make him seem weak. So, stuck in place, he tried to keep his fear in check, standing rigidly, hardly daring to breathe.
"The Forbidden Forest is too small, Hagrid," Hermione continued, attempting to reason with him. "It might be enough to hide Fluffy, but there's no way it could keep a dragon hidden. Don't forget that Norbert can fly. With just a few flaps of his wings, he can reach fifty feet or more. The trees won't keep him grounded."
"But... I've only just got him," Hagrid murmured, looking torn.
"Do you really want him to stay grounded in the Forbidden Forest forever?" Hermione pressed on. "Norbert's a dragon, Hagrid. He was born to soar in the skies."
"I... I know I can't keep him forever," Hagrid admitted, biting his lip. "But yesterday, while he was eating, he rubbed his head against my hand... like he thinks I'm his mum. I can't just toss him aside. I just can't."
What? Kyle raised his eyebrows, glancing down at Norbert, who was now lying sprawled across his arm, pretending to be lifeless.
Since when did I become a parent? he wondered. And where did Hagrid get the idea that dragons "recognized their parents by rubbing against their hands"? Kyle had never heard of anything like that.