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Don't you know who really wants the Philosopher's Stone?

Why did I join in their nonsense?

Hermione saw her cousin being carried out of the lounge, looking completely bewildered.

He covered his mouth and burst into loud laughter.

Afraid of waking the other young wizards, yet unable to suppress a smile.

Zicomo shook off their hands, walked up to Hermione, and whispered, "Why did you come out with them? Don't you know the truth?"

“I wasn’t planning on going, but they came knocking on my door. And I was also a bit curious about what other checkpoints there were besides Cerberus. I figured I might as well go ask Hagrid.”

Hermione winked mischievously at Zicomo.

Zicomo sighed helplessly and followed Harry and Ron to Hagrid's cabin.

Two energetic young men knocked on Hagrid's door.

The door opened, and even Zicomo, who was standing at the back, could clearly feel a wave of heat emanating from the room.

Oh wow, if I'm not mistaken, this big mouth has unintentionally allowed Quirrell to use the dragon egg to trick Cerberus out of its weakness.

At this point, Hagrid was still unaware of the seriousness of the problem and was happily incubating the eggs.

"Alright, what are you guys doing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? Let me make it clear beforehand, I don't have time to play with you guys today."

Hagrid opened the door and saw the four little ones standing in front of him, and said in a stiff tone.

His impatience was undisguised; he clearly wanted to get rid of the four people as soon as possible.

Without waiting for them to speak, he closed the door again.

“We already know that Fluffy is guarding the Philosopher's Stone,” Harry called from outside the door.

As soon as he finished speaking, the door opened again.

"Okay, come in and talk."

“We believe Snape wanted to steal the Philosopher’s Stone,” Harry said.

“Oh! Professor Snape, why do you still doubt him? He himself is one of the professors who protected the Philosopher's Stone,” Hagrid retorted.

"Alright, you all understand now. In short, Professor Snape would never steal the Philosopher's Stone. Let's go."

Hagrid urged again.

“Wait, you just said one of them?” Hermione keenly noticed Hagrid’s choice of words.

“Yes, several professors were involved. In fact, I don’t think anyone can get past Fluffy,” Hagrid continued. “After all, only Professor Dumbledore and I know Fluffy’s weaknesses. Alright, you should go now; being caught out while out at night will result in a deduction of points.”

Zicomo watched Hagrid with narrowed eyes.

He stood in front of the fireplace, blocking the view of it, and kept urging everyone to leave, trying to conceal something.

"Hagrid, are you hiding something from us?"

P.S.: Thank you everyone for the flowers and votes!!! Your support is my greatest motivation!

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Dragon Egg and the Punishment for Nighttime Wandering

"Hagrid, are you hiding something from us?"

Zicomo interrupted Hagrid.

Before Hagrid could object, he continued, "I felt something was off from the start. Your room is too hot. Even though early spring nights can still be chilly, you shouldn't have made the room so warm. And what are you trying to hide by standing in front of the fireplace?"

At this moment, everyone also noticed the abnormality in Hagrid.

"Hagrid?" Harry looked at Hagrid in confusion.

"Alright, since you've already found out, I won't hide it anymore."

You're really honest!

Zicomo couldn't help but think to himself that he had only tricked Hagrid.

Hagrid turned and took the eggs out of the large pot in the fireplace.

He placed it on the table, and everyone gathered around to look at the egg, which was several times larger than an ostrich egg.

"So, this is a dragon egg?" Zicomo tapped the eggshell; it was still a little hot to the touch.

"Yes, my goodness! It's a Norwegian Spinosaurus egg!"

Ron exclaimed.

There's no way around it; which little boy hasn't fantasized about being a dragon knight during his childhood?

In particular, his brother Charlie was a staff member studying dragons in Romania.

Zicomo was also observing carefully from the side.

This was the first time he had ever seen a dragon egg.

Although he has been sweeping through Galid's Dragon Tomb recently.

Furthermore, there are now no fewer than eight dragon corpses in the system's inventory.

The dark green thing in front of me, which was even a bit blackened by Hagrid's roasting, was actually a dragon egg.

Zicomo thought it should at least be special.

Well, it's already quite unusual that Zicomo forgot to use fire for incubation.

Spending a long time in border areas broadens one's horizons considerably.

"How did you get this?" Hermione asked, frowning.

This stuff is contraband; if anyone reports it, Hagrid will be sent to Azkaban.

“I won it from a stranger in the tavern,” Hagrid added. “He seemed eager to give me the dragon egg.”

Just then, the dragon egg began to shake violently.

A short while later, its outer shell exploded, revealing the little dragon inside.

Zicomo's lips twitched. This dragon definitely had a bad temper. What kind of oviparous animal would blow its shell open when it hatches?

“Oh! Look, Norber is treating me like his mother!” Hagrid exclaimed joyfully.

Norber the dragon rubbed his head against Hagrid's hand, then opened his mouth and spat out a flame that burned off Hagrid's beard.

Hermione, who was watching from the side, whispered to Zicomo, "I don't see it treating Hagrid like its mother. Does a dragon express love by breathing fireballs on its lover?"

"Hmm, who knows? Don't you like dragons?" Zicomo asked curiously.

"I don't like it. It looks like the pterosaur I saw when I visited a prehistoric museum in elementary school. It has no sense of mystery at all."

"Okay, so what do you like?"

"I don't know, maybe a unicorn?"

Having only studied in the magical world for a little over half a year, Hermione had only ever seen the dragon in front of her and didn't yet have a deep understanding of magical creatures.

Zicomo had been thinking that if Hermione didn't like any rare magical creatures, he would try to get one for her as a birthday present this year.

Unexpectedly, the little witch immediately mentioned unicorns.

"Who's there?" Hagrid shouted, startling Zicomo from his thoughts.

Turning to look out the window, Draco was peeking out from there.

Realizing he had been discovered, he quickly turned and ran away.

Zicomo suddenly thought of something and gestured to Hermione with his eyes.

"I'm a little sleepy. Anyone want to come back with me?"

Hermione understood immediately and said, "Alright, I'm really not interested in this dragon. Cousin, I'll go back with you."

“Okay, Hermione and I will head back now.” Zicomo stood up and walked out of Hagrid’s hut with Hermione.

Harry and Ron were clearly interested in the dragon and wanted to stay and observe it a little longer.

Once outside, Hermione gestured to Zicomo to give her the 'Mimetic Veil'.

The little witch took the veil, transformed into a cat, jumped into Zicomo's arms, and asked.

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Malfoy was spying on us just now. Guess what he'll do after he gets caught?"

"You mean he'll go tell the teacher?"

"Hmm, correct answer."

Hermione was full of questions. How could this brilliant man come up with such a self-destructive tactic?

"How dare he? He's a night owl himself."

"Perhaps his love and hate for Harry blinded him, just like Professor Snape and James Potter back then."

Zicomo's words made Hermione chuckle.

"Is that why you didn't tell them about this?"