**A/N:** *Guys, I just uploaded the character pictures of the FMCs in the previous chapter — check them out.

Thank you for the support.*

—

Aaric had been interacting with Hagrid since he arrived at Hogwarts. He was interested in both magical creatures and plants, and Hagrid was the best source of knowledge and stories on both—plus, he was easy and fun to talk to.

Today was one of those days.

Aaric knocked on Hagrid’s hut, holding something rare in his hand.

“Hagrid, come out! I’ve got something good to show you.”

He was holding an **Ignivine Bloom**—a magical flower found only in volcanic dragon nests. It was an excellent ingredient for the healthy development of baby dragons.

Hagrid opened the door hurriedly and peeked out. “Hi Aaric, sorry—now’s not a good time. Bye.”

As Hagrid began to shut the door, Aaric shoved the plant in his face.

Hagrid wasn’t good at lying. He always tried to end conversations fast just to avoid it.

“What is it?” Hagrid asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

Aaric grinned. “Ignivine Bloom. Good for baby dragons. And if you’re the one feeding it, it’ll be easier for you to tame.”

Hagrid looked surprised but still hesitant.

“I can see the egg behind you in that pot,” Aaric added plainly. “I know exactly what it is.”

Hagrid stepped out, glanced around nervously, then beckoned Aaric into the hut.

“How did yeh know?”

“What other egg needs to be boiled?” Aaric replied.

They said nothing more and just waited for the egg to hatch. While they waited, Aaric helped grind the Ignivine Bloom and prepare the other ingredients Hagrid would need. Despite not having much gold, Hagrid’s hut was full of rare plants and magical beast parts—**crushed fireworm casing, roasted flobberworm slices, giant bone marrow**, and more. If he sold even half of it, he might be richer than some noble families.

“Thank yeh, Aaric,” Hagrid said sincerely.

Aaric just smiled as a knock came at the door. It was the trio.

They managed to convince Hagrid to let them in.

“Hi Aaric, what are you doing here?” Harry asked.

“Trying not to get roasted by a baby dragon. Or arrested. Depends on how loud Ron gets.” Aaric said with a shrug, Ron just huffed with a laugh. Harry rubbed his head and joined the conversation. He trusted Aaric like a brother.

Hagrid said a few things he probably shouldn’t have, and then the egg began shaking violently. He placed it gently on the table.

The egg cracked open and out came a Norwegian Ridgeback, blinking curiously at Hagrid.

“Malfoy!” Ron shouted, spotting him at the window.

Aaric saw Draco too and gestured. “Why are you looking through the window like a creep? You could’ve just come inside.”

Draco stepped in and looked around. “What are you doing here?”

“Hagrid’s a friend. He’s taught me a lot—and helped me, too,” Aaric said simply.

Draco nodded. “It’s illegal to have dragons,” he added. “And I suppose your father will find out, huh?” Ron snapped.

Draco scoffed. “Not unless you babble to someone. A friend of Aaric’s is a friend of mine. Well… with some exceptions.”

As the two boys bickered, Hagrid sighed. “What should we do now? Thank you, Draco, for not telling your father—but I’ve never trained a dragon before. It won’t be long before we’re discovered.”

Aaric pointed at the broth they’d made. “Put a drop of your blood and a few strands of your hair in it. It won’t work for a full human, but you’re… a different case. This will bond her to you.”

Hagrid followed the instructions. The dragon drank the broth, burped once, and curled up in Hagrid’s lap—already fast asleep.

“You’ll want fireproof gloves soon,” Aaric murmured. “And maybe a reinforced roof.” the mood became a little more lighter after that.

“It’ll be easier now. She might grow larger than average, and being bonded like this, you’ll probably gain a few benefits too,” Aaric said calmly.

Everyone in the hut stared, awed. Hagrid looked like he was about to cry from joy.

“What should we name him?” Ron asked.

“Her,” Aaric corrected.

Hagrid blinked, then grinned. “Norberta sounds good.”

—

Days passed. Norberta grew fast and obeyed Hagrid well. Aaric continued helping where he could.

He also came across the **Mirror of Erised**—and saw exactly what he knew he would: his family, happy and whole.

Elsewhere, Harry became the new Seeker. Draco told Aaric that he only picked up the Remembrall to return it to Neville, but Ron made a few comments, and it turned into a broom race. ” It was fun, harry is good on the broom” Drac added.

Aaric was training hard too. The troll incident had taught him something simple but brutal: ‘Finish your enemies as soon as possible.’

That lesson—swift, decisive action—echoed in Aaric’s mind often these days. While most first-years were learning how to levitate feathers, Aaric was quietly mastering combat-focused theory and refining his magical reflexes. He didn’t crave violence, but he knew that hesitation in the wrong moment could mean death. The troll had proven that.

When he wasn’t training or in class, he was usually in the ROR with Daphne, she was a quick learner. He gave her moonblood resin too, she was greatful to him she actually helped him learn some spells too like the ice spells his father taught him, he was once chatting with her about them and she helped him with the third level of the spell aaric was trying to learn right now.

Norberta, meanwhile, had become something of a secret fifth member of the group. Aaric would bring meat scraps or smuggled potions for her diet, and Hagrid gave near-daily updates with proud grins and wagging eyebrows. The bond had worked—better than even Aaric had hoped. The dragon didn’t breathe fire yet, but her instincts were sharpening fast. Aaric made a mental note to start preparing Hagrid for her flight stage.

One night, as Aaric was leaving the hut after a late feeding session, Harry walked alongside him, unusually quiet.

“You okay?” Aaric asked.

Harry nodded, then stopped. “What did you see in that mirror?”

Aaric didn’t pretend not to understand.

“My family,” he answered simply. “Alive. Happy. I was… home.”

Harry’s gaze dropped to the ground. “Same.”

There was a long pause.

“Dumbledore said it shows our deepest desires,” Harry muttered. “But it felt real. Like I could just reach out and touch them.”

“You can’t live in a mirror,” Aaric said gently. “But you can still move toward that feeling. That’s what I try to do.”

Harry looked up at him, eyes a little watery but steady. “That helps. Thanks.”

They parted ways soon after, but Harry seemed a little lighter the next day.

Quidditch became the big distraction again as the match against Slytherin approached. Aaric watched from the stands, arms crossed, seated next to Daphne and hermoine.

The match itself was chaos, as expected. Flint was overly aggressive, and Slytherins would moke the gryfendor team from the stance, Harry cought the snitch in the end tho, winning the match.

After the match, while the Gryffindors celebrated, Aaric sat by the lake, He tossed a handful of shredded meat scraps into the water—dragon jerky, pilfered from Hagrid’s stores. Not because he was hungry, but because he was curious.

Something stirred below.

The surface rippled again, wider this time, as a massive shape drifted closer. Aaric didn’t flinch when a thick, glistening tentacle rose slowly from the water, curling once like a question mark. The giant squid.

“You’re more polite than most of the things in this forest,” Aaric muttered.

The tentacle hovered, then gently tapped the surface twice, sending out slow waves.

Aaric reached into his satchel and pulled out a wrapped package—a whole, cold trout charmed to stay fresh. “Hagrid said you like fish.” He unwrapped it and tossed it just ahead of the tentacle. The squid caught it mid-fall with shocking grace and sank below.

Silence returned for a moment. Then two more tentacles broke the surface—this time resting gently across a flat rock near the shore, almost like an offering of trust. Aaric stepped forward he carressed the tentacles and leaned on then as he sat beside the lake and enjoyed the scenery.

A/n : Daphne is dominating right now coz Aaric has had the most interaction with her till now. She is good choice too. First year will be coming to an end soon

Thank you for you support, i welcome suggestions i am thinking of making a discord so we can chat about the fic. Stones please.

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