The Grindylow in the Black Lake

Before anyone could react, the Hebridean Black Dragon that had been rubbing against Sean's leg suddenly sharpened its gaze. It opened its huge mouth and blasted scorching flames at the splash of water.

"Neigh—" The strange whinny carried a hint of pain, but it also grew more violent.

The Magical Creature finally revealed itself. It had a long mane like green waterweed, its enormous body completely covered by it, with only a huge mouth exposed.

The moment he saw those snow-white front teeth, Sean recognized what it was.

A Grindylow. These water monsters from England and Ireland could take all kinds of forms, though they most often appeared as horses. Ministry of Magic danger rating: XXXX.

They had astonishing bite strength, immense physical power, and were extremely difficult to tame.

More importantly... wasn't this one far too huge?!

Only half its body had burst from the water, yet it already filled Sean's entire field of vision. The still-young Little Black Dragon looked like a puppy in front of it.

"Merlin's underpants!" Hagrid's eyes went wide. "Since when has the Black Lake had such a massive Grindylow?!"

The Grindylow showed them no courtesy. With a shrill whinny, its enormous body slammed directly toward everyone on the shore.

Everyone leaped aside, barely avoiding the Grindylow's attack.

Sean slapped the dirt-covered Hagrid hard on the shoulder. "Hagrid! Where are the professors?!"

Apparition was impossible at Hogwarts, but Dumbledore, who had a phoenix, should have arrived by now.

Hagrid spat out a mouthful of mud. "Don't know! You lot run! I'll distract it for a bit—I've got some experience taming Grindylows—"

Before he could finish, Hagrid's massive body was clamped between the Grindylow's jaws and whipped wildly through the air.

"Hagrid!" Harry cried out.

Sean's expression darkened. Nothing he had could deal with something this large. Even the Fiendfyre Curse he had just learned could only protect himself, and it took absurdly long to cast.

Seeing Hagrid's body about to be flung onto the lake like a ragged sack, Sean gritted his teeth and patted the Little Black Dragon beside him.

"Little guy, can you fly me up there?"

The Little Black Dragon blinked at him, then spread its leathery wings.

Sean immediately climbed onto its back. The Little Black Dragon took a few wobbly running steps before taking flight.

"Good, head for its head... Hey, hey, little guy, I didn't tell you to fly away!" Sean had just been about to lock eyes with the Grindylow when the Little Black Dragon actually carried him away at full speed in the opposite direction.

"Roar?" It tilted its head in confusion. That enormous thing was right in front of them—why wouldn't they run?

Sean did not know whether to laugh or cry. He hurriedly patted the Little Black Dragon's head, signaling for it to fly back.

It hesitated for a moment, but the immense affinity emanating from Sean overcame its instincts. In the end, the Little Black Dragon wheeled around and flew toward the Grindylow's thrashing head.

With Hagrid caught in its jaws, the Grindylow shook him violently in midair for a while before letting out a whinny and flinging him into the Black Lake. Then it began to dive beneath the surface.

"Faster!" Sean urged the dragon beneath him. If that thing disappeared into the Black Lake and Professor Dumbledore did not show up, Hogwarts's Keeper of Keys and Grounds would be reduced to nothing but internal organs.

Just as the Grindylow was about to submerge, Sean finally saw its eyes.

Huge black pupils, with a layer of red around their sockets, just like the other Magical Creatures.

But Sean had no time to think about anything else. He steadied his emotions as much as possible, filling his gaze with gentleness and friendliness.

The Grindylow noticed him. The instant their eyes met, the massive creature froze. The blood-red tint around its pupils rapidly faded, and its gaze became confused.

At the same time, Sean felt an immense loneliness.

He paused, then immediately understood.

Could his exceptionally high Magical Creature Affinity allow him to sense their inner emotions?

The Little Black Dragon had been separated from its family, so it felt sorrow and fear. This Grindylow, meanwhile, was lonely.

Right. It was so huge—it must have existed in the Black Lake for a very long time...

Sean maintained his friendly expression and reached out a hand toward it.

The enormous Grindylow hesitated, then slowly swam over.

"Neigh—" Sean stroked its enormous head, hidden beneath its green seaweed-like mane. The Grindylow let out a pleased whinny.

Just as with the Little Black Dragon, Sean felt that he had formed a strange connection with it.

Perhaps more than friends, but not quite master and creature?

And he could already clearly feel that the Grindylow no longer held any hostility toward him.

Sean climbed down from the Little Black Dragon and sat on the Grindylow's wet, slippery back.

"Big guy, do me a favor. Can you bring that person back to the shore?" He affectionately patted its head.

"Neigh—" The Grindylow whinnied and dove into the water in one swift motion.

"Mmff!" Sean immediately clamped his mouth shut. The violent current battered his body, and the Grindylow was moving so fast that he could not open his eyes at all. He could only cling desperately to its mane.

Fortunately, Sean only had to hold his breath briefly before he felt fresh air again. The Grindylow burst from the water, carrying the floundering Hagrid onto its back.

"Don't dive again!" Sean hurriedly rubbed its head hard.

The Grindylow snorted unhappily and carried the two of them toward the shore.

"Hagrid, are you all right?"

Hagrid spat out several mouthfuls of water and rubbed his shoulder. "That thing's incredibly strong. Good thing I was wearing Dragonhide Shoulder Pads."

"I'm glad you're okay." Sean let out a breath of relief.

Hagrid, who had narrowly escaped death, actually broke into an excited grin. He looked at Sean eagerly. "Sean, how did you tame that thing? Merlin's Beard, I've always wanted to know what it feels like to ride a Grindylow."

Sean smiled helplessly. Hagrid was far too obsessed with Magical Creatures.

When they reached the shore, the Grindylow flicked its rear end, sending Hagrid flying onto the ground like a ball. Then it lowered its head against the bank.

Sean slid down its neck to the ground and vigorously rubbed its head.

The Grindylow nuzzled Sean, let out a whinny, and submerged beneath the lake.

"See you next time." Sean waved hard.

As a child raised in a Wizarding Family, Harry felt that this single day had been more magical than everything he had seen before.

Detention meant going into the Forbidden Forest to catch a dragon, then Magical Creatures went berserk, his first-year friend casually tamed a dragon, and then just as casually became friends with a gigantic Grindylow.

"So this is Hogwarts... Sirius didn't lie to me..." Harry murmured.