Little Dragons Need Freedom

"Since it was your invitation..." Muya opened the door herself and pulled Draco inside.

"Cool, look at those huge wings. They even have spikes on them, and the way it breathed fire was even cooler." Like Hagrid, Draco circled the little dragon, examining it carefully.

Harry and the other two looked at Draco speechlessly, while Muya calmly ate the snacks in her hands.

Draco actually got along quite well with Hagrid. Draco was also the name of the Dragon Star in the constellation, so he had loved dragons since childhood and dearly wanted to raise one.

After staying for a while, they left, while Muya went to weed the vegetable garden.

"Hello, are you junior Mya Mu?" It was a very pretty Eastern Ravenclaw girl.

Seeing Mya Mu clutching a handful of weeds in each hand and staring at her blankly with her head tilted, the girl smiled and introduced herself. "I'm Cho Chang from Ravenclaw. Actually, I've always been very interested in you."

Mya Mu pointed a finger at herself in disbelief. "Huh? Me?"

A few minutes later, Cho Chang entered the vegetable garden and weeded with Mya Mu, who also introduced her to the fruits and vegetables growing there.

"I didn't expect you to be so impressive, junior Mya. I heard the younger wizards saying that you earned a lot of points in Herbology class." Cho Chang did not hold back her praise, leaving Muya a little embarrassed.

"By the way, how did you know I was here, senior Cho?" Muya asked.

"Once before, I saw you come here and leave with some bright red fruit. Today, I thought I'd try my luck and see whether I could run into you." She looked at Muya and smiled. "Looks like I'm very lucky today."

Thump, thump, thump—my heart was racing...

Muya waved away the music that had started playing automatically in her mind. A beautiful older girl had taken the initiative to arrange a chance encounter and become friends with her. Merlin's wig, how could her heart not race?

After they finished weeding, they returned to the castle. Cho Chang told Muya that if she had any essays, spells, or History of Magic questions she did not understand, she could always ask her.

Muya watched her leave with sparkling eyes. Oh yeah, she had found herself another powerful backer.

Over the following week, Harry and the others were terrified that Hagrid's dragon-raising would be discovered, so whenever they had spare time, they ran to Hagrid's hut. Usually, when they arrived, they would find platinum-haired Draco sitting on the sofa.

Muya, on the other hand, came and went whenever she felt like it.

During that time, it grew almost every day. It was now three times as large as it had been when it first hatched.

They began to feel uneasy about both the little dragon and Hagrid. "Hagrid, you really should let it go now."

Hagrid held the little dragon, looking utterly reluctant to part with it. "No, I can't. It's still so small. It'll die if it's out there alone!"

Puffs of smoke came out of the little dragon's nostrils.

Over the past week, Hagrid had set aside his duties as Keeper of the Grounds in order to care for the little dragon.

The floor of the hut was littered with empty brandy bottles and piles of chicken feathers.

"I've decided to call it Norbert." Hagrid looked at Norbert through tear-filled eyes. "It really knows me now. Look, Norbert, Mommy's here!"

Muya rubbed her forehead. She had never expected Hagrid to possess such radiant maternal love.

"But Hagrid, in perhaps two more weeks, the little dragon—or Norbert—will grow big enough to burst your house apart. Then everyone will know you broke the law." Harry raised his voice.

Draco stepped forward and lifted his chin. "My house can easily accommodate this little dragon. Why not keep it at my house?"

Muya shook her head. "I'm afraid that won't work, Draco. Norbert only hatched a week ago. What it needs now is professional care." After saying that, she looked at Ron.

"Oh, Mya Mu, you mean Charlie." Ron accurately caught her signal.

"That's right. Ron's brother Charlie is a professional dragon trainer. There's no one better to leave it with."

"What do you think, Hagrid?" Harry asked.

In the end, Hagrid agreed. He had Ron send an owl to ask Charlie first.

After leaving Hagrid's house, Draco pulled Muya along behind the others. His face was full of resentment and dissatisfaction. Muya did not need to guess that her words had angered the proud little young master.

"Hmph, why wouldn't you agree to let the little dragon stay at my house? You clearly know that I love dragons just as much as Hagrid does!" Draco frowned tightly, his eyes red-rimmed.

"But after Charlie and the others finish taking care of Norbert, they'll release it into the wild. It might not receive professional care at your house."

"Our family can hire dragon trainers too, and they'll be better than that red-haired mole family's brother!"

"But little dragons are free. It doesn't belong to any person or any family. It should create its own life." Muya wiped away the tears Draco had accidentally let fall.

Hearing that, Draco instantly fell silent and let Muya wipe his tears.

When he finally came to his senses, he covered his face and quickly ran off.

"What's wrong with that Malfoy guy?" Ron asked.

"Who knows? Maybe he really needs to use the toilet." After Harry said that, he and Ron exchanged glances and laughed, while Hermione looked utterly speechless beside them.

On Thursday morning of the following week, Muya saw Ron with his hand wrapped up. He had good news and bad news.

The bad news was that, the night before, Ron had gone to Hagrid's hut to help feed Norbert. Norbert had started eating dead rats packed in crates, and it had even bitten Ron.

Muya looked at his wound and told him to hurry to the School Hospital to let Madam Pomfrey examine it, but he insisted on telling her the good news first.

Charlie had replied. He was delighted to take Norbert in and had arranged to take the dragon away next Saturday night from the highest tower under cover of darkness.

Once he finished speaking, Muya went to the School Hospital with him. When Madam Pomfrey asked what had bitten Ron's hand, Ron answered that it was a dog, and Muya hurriedly nodded as well. However, Madam Pomfrey wore an expression that clearly said, "I don't believe you." Fortunately, she did not ask any more questions afterward.

Soon, Harry and Hermione arrived at the School Hospital after class, and Muya left. She had Potions class with Slytherin, and she decided to tell Draco that Norbert was going to be sent away as well. Thus, everyone stared in surprise at Muya and Draco, who had become partners.

Snape merely glanced at them and did not say anything.

Muya and Draco made potions while keeping an eye on Snape and whispering to each other. In the end, Snape actually praised the potion they made.

That afternoon, Muya and the others went to see Norbert. Unfortunately, Norbert had bitten the tail of Hagrid's other dog and bitten Hagrid's leg too, though it had only bitten his boot.