They said they were going out for a walk, but they were really just strolling around the castle; it wasn't time for them to be allowed into Hogsmeade village yet.
Even so, the two of them wandered around the vicinity of the village for a bit. Just as they were getting ready to head back for dinner, they happened to bump into Hagrid.
However, Hagrid was walking hurriedly at this moment. His moleskin overcoat had been taken off and was bundled in his hands, seeming to contain something inside.
"Hagrid!" Hermione, not suspecting anything, happily ran up to him. "What are you doing here?"
Startled by the sudden appearance of the little human, Hagrid jumped, but after seeing clearly that it was the two of them, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"Oh, it's nothing, I just went to the village for a bit of a drink." When he opened his mouth to explain, his breath reeked of alcohol, proving he indeed wasn't lying about that.
The stench made Hermione subconsciously take a step back. "The smell on you is a bit too strong... Since you're in a hurry to get back, then—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Kate stole the conversation. "Hagrid, what you have in your hands... is it an egg of some magical creature?"
"How did you know?" Hermione looked at her in astonishment.
Kate, hands in her pockets, unhurriedly walked up to Hagrid, whose face had noticeably tensed up.
"Don't forget, I stayed at Teacher Newt's house for a year, and even caught a dragon hatchling with my own hands. When it comes to raising dragons, there isn't anyone in the entire school who knows more about it than me."
She tilted her head, looking at Hagrid with a beaming smile. "Aren't you going to invite us to your hut for a cup of tea?"
"Wait a minute," Hermione only just now figured out the situation. "Kate, you mean to say, what Hagrid is holding in his arms is a..."
"Alright!" Hagrid interrupted her with a guilty conscience. "Just follow me back for now!"
Clutching the thing in his arms, he walked briskly toward the gamekeeper's hut. As soon as they entered, he pulled the curtains tightly shut.
Kate didn't sit idle either. Drawing her wand, she ignited the fireplace and said casually, "Dragons like hot environments, so it's best to keep the whole house warm, and..."
Before she could even finish her words, she saw Hagrid hurriedly walk toward her, clutching the overcoat in his arms, and ask urgently, "How did you know this was a dragon egg?"
Naturally, it was by relying on a God's-eye perspective.
Of course, she couldn't say such a thing out loud. Kate gave a light cough. "The people in Hogsmeade village are a mixed bag, especially in places like the pub."
She gave Hagrid, who reeked of alcohol, a meaningful look. "Besides, even while drunk, you're holding the thing in your arms like a precious treasure. Plus, Harry told me before that you especially wanted to raise a dragon..."
Beside them, Hermione frowned and raised a dissenting opinion. "That's still just a guess. What if this isn't a dragon egg, but some other kind of egg?"
"That's right," Kate shrugged nonchalantly. "So I was just making a casual guess. If I guessed wrong, then so be it. Who knew I'd actually guess right."
She had a 'it's your own fault for exposing yourself' look in her eyes, staring at Hagrid so intensely that for a split second, he began to doubt his life choices.
However, Hagrid was someone with a big heart and a big mouth. He was only dumbfounded for a few seconds before recovering his wits, carefully placing the dragon egg wrapped in his overcoat onto the table.
This was the first time Hermione had seen a legendary dragon egg. She immediately leaned in with some curiosity. "What kind of dragon could this be?"
"Judging by its color and size, it's a Norwegian Ridgeback, a rather rare breed," Kate answered calmly. "Congratulations, you've got a dragon of your very own."
Hagrid instantly cheered up, proudly placing his hands on his hips. "But of course! I won this playing cards and drinking with someone down in the village!"
No matter when, getting something for free always makes people happy.
Seeing him so ecstatic, Kate felt too embarrassed to bring up the dragon breeding ban that had been passed over two hundred years ago.
"So what's next? Are you planning to raise it yourself, or send it to a dragon breeding reserve?" she asked in a roundabout way.
Hermione's eyes also lit up. "Right, Ron's second-oldest brother, Charlie, is a dragon tamer in Romania. I think he'd be glad to help."
"How could I do that?" Hagrid frowned. "He's mine, so of course he'll be raised by me personally. I'll be a good mummy!"
"But..."
Hermione still wanted to say something, but saw Kate shaking her head at her.
"Then I'll write down the titles of a few books on raising dragons for you. You can just go to the library and find them yourself." Kate stood up from the sofa, signaling for Hermione to leave with her.
It wasn't until the two had left the grounds that Hermione asked in confusion, "You should know that breeding dragons is illegal, so why are you helping Hagrid raise it?"
"He's in high spirits right now. Besides, if a dragon egg is moved around carelessly, it's very likely to affect the hatchling. Since he likes it so much, let's just let him take care of it until the egg hatches."
In the original works, it was exactly because the Golden Trio discovered Hagrid's dragon egg and were snitched on by Malfoy that they were punished with a patrol of the Forbidden Forest, thereby discovering Voldemort drinking unicorn blood.
Because of this incident, it led to the Golden Trio's subsequent brave expedition into the dungeons.
According to Kate's speculation, the entirety of their first year was likely a test Dumbledore had set up for Harry—a test of his character, courage, and kindness.
Only if Harry passed the test would Dumbledore continue to implement all his future plans; otherwise, everything would be off the table.
Therefore, throughout this year, Kate had rarely interfered with Harry's various actions. Sometimes, when she accidentally intervened, she would also strive to bend the worldline back on track.
Dumbledore needed to test Harry, and she also needed Harry, the Savior, to act as the primary thorn in Voldemort's side.
Back on the Quidditch pitch, due to Dumbledore's cover-up, no one knew what had happened—including Quirrell, who had been secretly engaging in a magical contest with her.
This wasn't taking the blame for someone else or deliberately hiding her achievements, but rather a manifestation of Dumbledore's care for her.
In contrast, if Dumbledore had heavily praised her and awarded her points, not only would it make her position in Slytherin awkward, but it would also draw Voldemort's attention.
And if she rashly interfered with Harry's trajectory, removing Harry from the equation, Voldemort would naturally set his sights on her.
Although doing so was quite cruel to Harry, even without her, Harry would still grow bit by bit according to Dumbledore's expectations.
As for her, she was merely borrowing his radiance to conceal herself.
This time, she was going to watch events unfold just like in the original works, allowing Harry to successfully pass Dumbledore's test.
"Don't worry, I'll write a letter to my teacher. You know, my teacher is a remarkable master of magical creatures."
She patiently began to comfort Hermione. "Anyway, rest assured, the little dragon will definitely be fine, and so will Hagrid."
Hermione had always trusted her the most. Hearing her say this, she finally gave a slight nod.
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