Work Text:
Norbert the dragon:
Hagrid raised him with such care.
He was sad to depart.
Norbert the dragon
Reluctantly landed, safe
With Trainee Charlie.
They stared at each other:
Cautious, considering stares.
With a sigh, they calmed.
Norbert settled in;
Befriending larger dragons.
Soon, it became home.
Norbert grew quickly.
The keepers cautioned Charlie
Not to fly too soon.
It was all in vain.
For, though Charlie tried to wait,
Norbert disagreed.
Nipping and biting,
The small dragon used his teeth.
He became vicious.
Charlie’s arms were marked.
His clothes were torn and mended,
Day in and day out.
Finally, it came:
The day the other keepers
Had known would arrive.
They’d seen the dragon;
His growing intensity,
Increasing fervor.
The animagus,
While enthusiastic, was
Still so very young.
He was learning, and
Didn’t recognize the signs;
The others did.
And they watched, laughing
Norbert finally badgered
Him into flying.
They took to the skies:
Together, they ran uphill.
Two dragons, they jumped.
The wind caught their wings.
With strong muscles, they both rose
Up, up in the air.
Soon, they came back down;
Charlie transformed back, got dressed.
They rejoined the rest.
“Norbert, what a day!”
Charlie exclaimed, excited,
Scratching Norbert’s chin.
His finger was nipped.
The keepers behind them laughed,
Finally sharing.
The secret they’d kept:
“Your dragons a ‘she’, not ‘he’,”
One of them snickered.
Norbert looked at him,
As if in confirmation.
Charlie paused, nodded.
“Now, that does make sense,”
He sighed, muttering aloud.
“Not a Norbert, then-
Norberta it is!”
Charlie finally grinned wide,
Looking down at her.
“Stop biting me now?”
Norberta held his firm gaze,
Considering him.
The little dragon
Finally seemed to agree
And gazed at Charlie.
That moment, he knew:
Norberta would be his friend
And his companion.
They’d help each other.
Learn and grow with each other,
Live long and full lives.
Charlie, Norberta:
Both were dragons in spirit.
Together, they flew.