How Hagrid Became A Hero -- VIA

[Skimmel_98 at yahoo.com]

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No: HPFGUIDX C1129
From: Skimmel_98
Subject: Re: How Hagrid Became A Hero -- VIA
Reply To: [Yahoo! #1117] Re: How Hagrid Became A Hero -- Part V B
Date: 4/21/00 11:41 pm  (ET)

The trip to Cairo would be a long one, Hagrid knew that and he had never
been away from the British Islands. He stood next to Norbert carefully
examining a muggle map of Europe.

"Got to be careful with both Muggles and Magic types," he said to Norbert
as he turned the map upside down trying to make sense of it. "Don't know
what the attitudes in other countries toward dragons is likely to be. I
reckon The English Channel is all right but the Mediterranean is a bit
dodgy. That means its either through Spain, Gibraltar and North Africa
or through Europe and Turkey. Whatcha think, Norbert?"

Norbert snorted a ball of flame that landed square in the middle of
Europe before it caused the map to explode into flames.

"All right. Europe it is then. And we can go by Charlie Weasley in
Romania. That's good thinking, Norbert. Charlie will have some ideas
about what we should do next."

The trip took four days and the magicking types in the other countries
did have other ideas.

In France it was: "Monsieur. We are certain that your dragon will be
very good."

"I think so. I hatched him from an egg meself."

"Especially with a nice mint sauce and a good white wine."

"Mint sauce?" his companion had said hitting him on the back. "Sacre
bleu! Are you insane? This is a Norwegian Ridgeback. It must be a
B'arnaise sauce and a strong red wine."

"Bearnaise sauce? Mon Dieu. And you dare question my sanity. Did they
teach you that culinary science was a dark art?"

Hagrid had left them wrestling on the ground.

In Germany, the situation was slightly different The wizard inspector
told Hagrid that "We have ways of making your dragon talk."

In Austria, Hagrid and Norbert crossed the Alps and Hagrid discovered to
his delight that the hills really were alive with the sound of music. Or
more properly of woodsprites who flew around them singing. At least they
did until Norbert tried to take a bite out of one. Then the woodsprites
flew up and sang to them from a safe distance.

In Hungary, Hagrid found ... well... Hungarians.

Shortly after crossing the border into Romania, a small black owl with
red eyes flew close to them and for reasons that Hagrid could never tell
anyone Hagrid decided to follow him. He lead them across farmlands and
dark forests and mountains. Finally they cleared a mountain ridge and
the small own flew straight toward a castle with many towers on a cliff
above a mountain lake. Except that it was made of very dark stone it
could have been Hogwarts.