Just as Harry looked at the few remaining but even more intimidating Dark Creature Inferi in the distance, and the dozens of giants farther behind them, a tremendous commotion suddenly erupted from the Forbidden Forest. In the distance, a great flock of birds could be seen taking flight.
Just as Harry wondered whether Voldemort and his followers had unleashed some other bizarre creature, a long, slender figure burst through the canopy and soared into the sky.
It was a black dragon.
It was a black dragon Harry and his friends knew.
The Norwegian Ridgeback, Norberta.
Almost simultaneously, the trees near the Quidditch pitch shook violently, and then a huge mass of something charged out of the forest.
It really was a huge mass, because Harry could not immediately think of a suitable word for it.
But at the sight of that huge mass, his anxious, angry mood eased considerably.
The one who emerged from the woods was Hagrid.
But he was not quite the Hagrid they usually saw.
At that moment, Hagrid was riding an enormous Dark Creature.
Harry and his friends recognized it. It was an Erumpent.
Well, to be fair, given Hagrid's size and weight, the Fantastic Beasts he could ride could practically be counted on one's fingers.
Even with Norberta, it was debatable whether she could take flight with Hagrid on her back.
But an Erumpent was definitely one of the few creatures that could carry Hagrid's weight without much difficulty.
There were two Erumpent families in the Forbidden Forest-at least, Harry and his friends had seen two.
Hagrid had once brought them to class to demonstrate them to his students. Yes, Cedric had even had a little mishap during their first lesson on Erumpents and spent a few days in the Hospital Wing.
Erumpents were relatively