CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Wonder what it’s like to have a peaceful life,” Ron sighed, as
evening after evening they struggled through all the extra home-
work they were getting. Hermione had now started making study
schedules for Harry and Ron, too. It was driving them nuts.
Then, one breakfast time, Hedwig brought Harry another note
from Hagrid. He had written only two words: It’s hatching.
Ron wanted to skip Herbology and go straight down to the hut.
Hermione wouldn’t hear of it.
“Hermione, how many times in our lives are we going to see a
dragon hatching?”
“We’ve got lessons, we’ll get into trouble, and that’s nothing to
what Hagrid’s going to be in when someone finds out what he’s do-
ing —”
“Shut up!” Harry whispered.
Malfoy was only a few feet away and he had stopped dead to lis-
ten. How much had he heard? Harry didn’t like the look on Mal-
foy’s face at all.
Ron and Hermione argued all the way to Herbology and in the
end, Hermione agreed to run down to Hagrid’s with the other two
during morning break. When the bell sounded from the castle at
the end of their lesson, the three of them dropped their trowels at
once and hurried through the grounds to the edge of the forest.
Hagrid greeted them, looking flushed and excited.
“It’s nearly out.” He ushered them inside.
The egg was lying on the table. There were deep cracks in it. Some-
thing was moving inside; a funny clicking noise was coming from it.
They all drew their chairs up to the table and watched with
bated breath.
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