The Little Sapphire Dragon, who had directly caused Norberta to take an unconventional path, ended up staying at Hagrid's Hut with Professor Kettleburn-to learn how to hunt with claws and teeth.
"Looking after one dragon is much the same as looking after two. I might as well stay here for a while," Professor Kettleburn said enthusiastically. "I'll bring some training equipment over tomorrow and enlarge the basement a little."
The Little Sapphire Dragon had always taken a positive attitude toward learning and improving, and had no objections to studying away from home. Brian felt deeply gratified. Perhaps because her territorial instincts had not yet developed, Norberta gave the Little Sapphire Dragon strange looks, but at least she wasn't hostile.
"Stay as long as you like!" Hagrid was delighted.
In just one evening, his formerly quiet hut, home to only one man and one dog, had gained two dragons,
as well as a resident drinking companion-which meant he would always have someone to share a drink with whenever he fancied one. Of course, he had always believed the more people drinking together, the better.
Having finished feeding Norberta, Hagrid chuckled happily, patted his ample supply of brandy, and caught Brian just as he was about to head home. "Chet, have a drink. To celebrate Norbert-Norberta-hmm, Norberta being born!"
He had grown used to calling her Norbert lately and hadn't yet managed to break the habit.
"...Then let's have a little celebration." Brian nodded, bracing himself. He still remembered the last evening Hagrid had suggested "a drink," when the two of them had emptied three large crates.
Professor Kettleburn demonstrated his position through action-he bit the stopper out of a bottle of brandy and poured it straight into his mouth. By Brian's estimate, this professor had at least five stomachs for alcohol,