On the second Thursday of May, Ted and the others went to visit Hagrid and Norbert again.
The facts proved that Ted's estimate had been too conservative. In just over a week, Norbert had already grown as large as an ordinary dog.
The weather had begun to warm up, yet Hagrid was still wearing a moleskin coat and Dragonhide Gloves as he struggled to hold down Norbert, who was chewing and biting at everything in sight.
By now, the combative Norwegian Ridgeback had begun to show its talent for wrecking homes.
Even Fang, the mixed-breed hound, had had part of his tail bitten.
Hagrid couldn't bear to be too rough with it, so he had an exceptionally difficult time dealing with it.
Then, in a moment of carelessness, Norbert bit Ron's finger.
It was only a small wound, but dragon saliva was poisonous.
The group hurried to the School Hospital. By the time they reached the halfway point, Ron's finger had swollen up like a carrot, red and thick. "Madam, Ron was bitten by a strange bug," Harriett said.
Madam Pomfrey at the School Hospital looked at her with an expression that clearly said, Go on, keep making things up.
In the end, Ron's hand was treated and wrapped up so heavily that it looked as though it had been amputated.
In a single afternoon, he had practically turned into a disabled person.
Although Ted and the others had been on guard against Malfoy, so there was no way they would let him keep tailing them, Ron's just-off-the-battlefield appearance was far too conspicuous.
Malfoy had already been suspicious, and this only confirmed his guesses! Ted and the others had discussed it with Hagrid as well. This couldn't go on! How long had it even been? The hatchling was already about