In truth, Hermione didn’t really know Kyle that well. If she had, she’d realize that nothing—not even a final exam, and maybe not even the O.W.L.s—could keep him away from a Quidditch match. The real reason for his absence this time was because he’d received something unusual and urgent.
Five minutes before the game, an owl had flown into the Hufflepuff Changing Rooms, dropping a chipped teacup at Kyle’s feet.
“Kyle, someone sent you rubbish!” grumbled Keeper Farrell, eyeing the chipped teacup with distaste. “The match is about to start—who on earth would do this? It can’t be those Slytherins again, can it?”
Kyle said nothing, just stared at the teacup, frozen. He recognized it immediately as Hagrid’s. He had convinced Hagrid to throw it out ages ago and remembered it distinctly.
“Sorry, Captain, something urgent came up. I might not be able to play in the match,” Kyle said abruptly. Without any hesitation, he mounted his broom and flew out of the Changing Rooms, still wearing his uniform.
His teammates stood there, stunned. By the time they realized what was happening, Kyle had vanished.
“Er… that’s the first time I’ve seen Kyle look so serious,” Farrell muttered, glancing at the others. “Think he’s going to confront someone about that thing?”
“I doubt it…” Cedric replied, shaking his head. Kyle’s expression hadn’t looked angry, just… worried.
“But what about the match?” asked Beater Will, looking concerned. “We’re about to go on!”
“It’s fine, we’ll put in a substitute,” Harris said, quickly heading off to find Madam Hooch.
Meanwhile, Kyle was speeding across the grounds on his broomstick, heading straight for Hagrid’s hut. As he landed, he could already hear heavy, labored breathing coming from inside.
He rushed in to find Hagrid struggling to hold down Norbert, desperately trying to keep the dragon’s mouth and wings under control. Norbert had grown to nearly the size of a Three-Headed Dog, and his strength was immense. Even Hagrid was visibly strained, his arms bulging with effort and his face flushed from exertion.
Kyle hurried over, speaking to Norbert in soothing tones and feeding him all the dried fish he had. After some coaxing, Norbert finally stopped thrashing, pacified for the moment.
“Thank Merlin you’re here…” Hagrid panted, sinking to the floor to catch his breath.
“What were you thinking?” Kyle frowned. “If I’d gotten here a little later, Norbert would have torn this place apart.”
“It’s my fault…” Hagrid mumbled, looking down. “Norbert’s been gettin’ real feisty lately, and today he just wouldn’t stay inside. I tried to keep him in, but he… well, he got mad.”
After a few minutes of conversation, Kyle understood the situation.
In short, Norbert was no longer the obedient hatchling he’d been in the beginning. As he grew larger and more energetic, Hagrid’s hut was starting to feel more like a “cage” than a home. He was desperate to get out and stretch his wings. Today’s incident had been the tipping point. Hagrid, of course, hadn’t dared to let him go, and in trying to hold him back, had pushed the dragon’s patience to the limit.
Kyle sighed, realizing that anyone would feel frustrated if confined in such a cramped space, especially a young, spirited dragon. Norbert had shown impressive restraint to put up with it as long as he had.
“You should’ve written to me sooner!” Kyle groaned, rubbing his forehead. With his recent workload—preparing a batch of Exam-Passing Amulets and training for Quidditch—he hadn’t checked in on Hagrid much, and he’d missed Norbert’s rapid growth.
Of course, he thought, I shouldn’t have believed Hagrid when he said he’d write to me as soon as Norbert was as big as Fang. Now he’s practically the size of Fluffy!
Hagrid finally grasped the gravity of the situation and, though reluctant, said, “Alright… you can take him away tomorrow.”
“Not tomorrow, but right now,” Kyle replied. “He could throw another fit at any moment, and that would cause even more trouble.”
“Right now?” Hagrid frowned, worried. “But how are you going to transport him? The Quidditch Pitch is right across the way, and if Norbert leaves the hut, everyone will see… Oh! I know! We can use a suitcase. Hold on a moment!”
Without further explanation, Hagrid bolted outside.
As soon as he was gone, Kyle approached Norbert and pulled a suitcase from his Mokeskin pouch. He opened it and set it down on the floor. “Come on in, Norbert. It’s a bit basic, but it’s a lot better than this cramped hut.”
Norbert rotated his wings a little uncertainly, but trusting Kyle, he cautiously put his head inside the suitcase. The next moment, Norbert found himself in an expansive, open space.
Kyle had been working on this enchanted suitcase for a while now, enhancing its internal space with an increasingly powerful Undetectable Extension Charm. By now, it could hold nearly the size of two full Hogwarts campuses—minus the Forbidden Forest, of course. Though it wasn’t his ultimate goal, it was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate a young dragon.
Kyle gave Norbert a few final instructions, reminding him not to bully the resident Troll or damage the plants. With a casual snort, Norbert puffed out a small jet of flame in acknowledgment before soaring off within his new surroundings.
By the time Kyle climbed back out of the suitcase, Hagrid had returned, lugging a large wooden suitcase with Fang trailing behind, whining over his favorite stuffed animal, which Hagrid had borrowed for the move.
“Kyle, take a look at this suitcase! I’m sure it’ll fit Norbert just fine—wait, where is he?”
Hagrid looked around, confused. Norbert, who had been resting in the corner just moments ago, was nowhere in sight.
“He… he didn’t fly out, did he?” Hagrid’s face turned pale, and he dropped the wooden suitcase to the ground in shock. His worst fear seemed to be coming true: Norbert had escaped.
He imagined the pandemonium that would break loose if a young fire-breathing dragon suddenly appeared over the Forbidden Forest. With all the professors and students watching the Quidditch match, it would be impossible to keep it a secret.
“Hagrid, Norbert didn’t run off,” Kyle said calmly, closing his own suitcase and slipping it back into his Mokeskin pouch. “You were just outside, right? Did you see him leave?”
Hagrid shook his head, his pulse calming slightly. He hadn’t seen Norbert leave the hut.
“Relax, I’ve already taken care of him. He’s somewhere safe,” Kyle assured him.
“Safe?” Hagrid’s eyes widened. “But… how did you manage that?”
Kyle simply chuckled. “Just a little insignificant trick.” He gave Hagrid a reassuring pat. “The crisis is over, so I’d better hurry back to the match. Want to come along?”