Ron was the first to arrive at Hagrid's cabin.
He knocked twice before Hagrid's unusual voice came through.
"Come in. It's open."
Ron pushed the door open and went to step in before quickly pulling back and almost falling down.
Magnus was right behind him.
"What's wrong?" Magnus asked as he held onto Harry's shoulder to save himself from falling.
"He can't be serious," Ron said, cowering back. "I ain't stepping in there. The Deino is free, ain't it?"
Magnus leaned forward and poked his head in.
"Come on, Hagrid, get it inside the pokeball."
The gigantic figure of Hagrid appeared the next minute at the door.
"He's all right, yer can come in. There's a shield barrier around him."
The four of them looked at each other doubtfully. It was apparent the same question was going through all their heads.
Hagrid did not have a wand and, as far as Magnus knew, he was not exactly powerful enough to cast wordless magic.
"Whose shield?" Hermione asked.
"Best shield there is, ain't it?" he said, half proud, half sad. "The headmaster cast it."
It was Magnus's turn to be shocked.
"Dumbledore was here? Dumbledore saw it?"
Hagrid suddenly fetched a towel sized handkerchief and blew his nose like a trumpet.
"That's why I called you."
Magnus was the first to enter.
If that was Dumbledore's Protego spell, then it was as good as a solid wall. Hermione, however, still hesitated.
"Well, he isn't around, is he? Even powerful shield walls become weaker when their caster is not in the vicinity."
Magnus faltered for a second, but Ron entered anyway.
"Well, not if the caster is Dumbledore. He's practically the most powerful wizard in the wizarding world."
But even he paused for a moment as Hagrid picked a bowl of fresh red meat and passed it quickly through the invisible barrier before pulling his hand back.
"How can you do that?" Ron asked.
"The Protego spell is supposed to cast an invisible but impenetrable barrier."
"Well, don't ask me," Hagrid answered. "I ain't got a clue. Dumbledore said this was a one way barrier. It prevents the Deino from coming out, but anybody can go in. I don't think any of you want to try that now, do you?"
He looked at them for a bit and his mood lightened, at least for a second. Magnus suddenly realized why Hagrid looked so downcast.
The secret was out.
Well, he had known the secret was out. Dumbledore had come himself and asked about the Zweilous while he was in the hospital wing.
He had told the same to his friends, and they had been deliberating on how to get Hagrid to be cautious. But it seemed the headmaster had decided to pay him a visit.
For a second, Magnus felt his gut tense.
Honestly, there didn't seem to be anything that Dumbledore missed that was happening in the school.
"Tea, anyone? An' where's your brothers?" he asked Ron.
"They went to Hogsmeade," Ron answered, still glaring at the Zweilous as the two of its heads fought viciously for a piece of steak.
"I forgot that it's Hogsmeade week already. Been a busy week."
The actual wording should have been that it had been a chaotic week.
Magnus stared at the shamble looking hut. It was clear Hagrid's mind was not here.
"Tea, anyone?" he repeated like they had an option. He already had a pot going on the fireplace.
"Sure," Magnus answered.
"Close the door behind yer, Hermione."
Hermione, who was carefully tiptoeing behind Harry, looked doubtful for a second.
"Shouldn't you give each head its own bowl of food?" she asked, eyeing the heads tearing at each other relentlessly.
"Course not," Hagrid said. "How will they learn to live with each other?"
"They don't seem to be learning anything," Harry said, moving to close the door instead.
He then gently pushed at Hermione, who was still standing cautiously near the door.
"Come on, Hermione. Even you know that Dumbledore's shield will hold, otherwise he would have warned Hagrid."
Once they were all seated, none of them spoke.
They all waited for him to tell them the reason for his summons, though honestly they already knew.
Hagrid placed four huge mugs in front of them and proceeded to pour the steaming tea.
When he was done, he poured one for himself and sat on the other end where his bed was located.
"Well, I thought you lot would have wanted ter say goodbye ter him."
The words escaped him in broken gasps, and for a second Magnus thought he would break down.
Hagrid placed his cup on the floor and fetched the huge handkerchief from his coat.
For a while, all of them appeared tongue tied. No one knew what to say.
"I am sorry, Hagrid," Harry said.
Ron followed.
"I'm so sorry," Magnus mumbled.
"Me too," Hermione said.
But honestly, if Magnus had to judge, Hermione was anything but sorry.
She had always championed for getting rid of the Deino, citing how dangerous it was. She wasn't the only one, though.
Inwardly, almost all of them weren't sorry about the news that the Pokémon was parting ways with Hagrid.
God knew how dangerous the Pokémon was.
Magnus had also been dreading the visit he would have to pay Hagrid to train it, especially since it had attained its second head.
The two things didn't seem to ever get along, and at every opportunity they tried to bite the life out of each other. And that was just when they were Zweilous.
He dreaded to think what would happen if Hagrid somehow managed to keep it until it became a Hydreigon. They would be lucky if the school term ended without a bloody murder.
"I always knew I should have gone to the headmaster. You were right, Magnus. I think it is too dangerous around the students. An' I should have known nothing escapes Dumbledore's attention. Blimey, he already knew about the little ball."
Yeah, Magnus had known that too.
"Told him that the thing meant no harm. It was only made to keep the Pokémon safe."
"What did he say?" Magnus asked.
That was one point he had not discussed with the headmaster during his time in the hospital wing.
"He said it was the most brilliant invention he had ever seen, and by Merlin, I think he was right too. I mean, the twins have always been brilliant, but I've never seen anything that brilliant. Dumbledore agrees that there's big potential in them, especially for Pokémon like Deino here."
"So it won't get them in trouble?" Magnus asked hopefully.
"I'm certain Mum would kill them if they do, especially after the Ministry hearing," Ron answered.
"Don' think so. Dumbledore looks like he might even support them. Never saw him so excited as he observed the ball when I handed it to him."
"So what did he say?" Magnus asked. "I mean about the Zorua."
"Well, you know Dumbledore, he tried to be kind. Told me it was the most unique Pokémon he had ever seen and he would have liked to keep it around to observe its growth, but of course he was right. It's too dangerous to keep around. Maimed half me foot just the other day. Madam Pomfrey even warned me that if I came again with such a bloody injury she would have to recommend me to St Mungo and to the Ministry herself."
"Dumbledore was right, Hagrid. Honestly, you shouldn't put yourself in such danger," Hermione said, almost unable to hide her relief.
"So have you decided where you're taking it?" Ron asked.
"Not yet. I gotta figure it out by tomorrow. That's what we agreed. I reckon I could give it to one of the Pokémon ranches I know. Although I'd be bloody lucky to find anyone who will take it. It's not that friendly to strangers. Dumbledore had to use a calming spell just to observe it without a shield."
Of course, Magnus had also learned that in this world there were Pokémon ranches. That was where most of the Wizarding Battle League players got their Pokémon.
The trouble was that the Deino wasn't a conventional Pokémon.
It was not easily trusting and certainly not easier to adapt to new trainers. It was already aggressive enough even to its own trainer, whom it had imprinted on since hatching.
Imagine what it would do to a completely new handler.
"I bet they will lose a limb or two before they decide whether they like him enough," Ron said.
Hermione flinched.
"I think the best choice would be to hand it over to the Department for the Control of Magical Creatures and Pokémon."
All of them turned toward her.
"Are you sick?" Ron asked. "They will kill it."
"No they won't," she protested.
"Tell us then," Ron insisted. "What will they do exactly with a Pokémon that vicious? One that will most likely maim the first handler they send to collect it?"
She seemed to search for an answer but none came.
"Well, what do you suggest he do? At least it's better than it maiming another trainer."
"See," Ron jumped at the chance. "You said it yourself."
"Well, I didn't say they would kill it."
Hagrid now looked petrified at the thought.
Now that they were narrowing down his options, he was beginning to see that, other than himself, there were very few choices for the Deino's rehoming.
Magnus suddenly turned to Ron.
"Your brother, Charlie. He deals with dragons, right?"
"Yes," Ron said, then froze almost instantly. "How the hell did you know that Charlie deals with dragons?"
It was Magnus's turn to falter.
Honestly, he had no doubt about that. But now that he was living this as real life, he had to be careful.
"I heard Fred mention it once."
Ron seemed to relax.
"Yeah, Charlie's in Romania, but I don't think Mum would allow it. And from what you've described, once it becomes a Hydreigon, it would probably make dragons look like puppies."
Ron had a point, but still, Charlie was the closest thing to a safe option.
"I think Charlie would give anything to have it, though," Ron said.
[email protected] /Realmsinus to read ahead