read full story inpatreon
ilham20
Whether Richie had actually brushed against the edge of creating his own spell was still too early to say. Right now all he felt was bone-deep exhaustion, so he lay back down and let sleep take him again.
When he opened his eyes the second time, it was already three in the afternoon.
The medical wing at the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary was top-notch. This time when Richie sat up, his body felt completely normal—no dizziness, no lingering drain.
The moment he stepped out of the room, someone spotted him.
"Hey, Richie!"
It was Ben. He had his wand out, floating a tall stack of books beside him.
"You woke up at the perfect time," Ben said, grinning. "We're about to hold the commendation ceremony in the main plaza. As the big hero of the night, you've got to be there."
Richie blinked, then fell into step beside him. "Where's Hagrid?"
"You mean the giant guy?" Ben jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "He's with Little Chili Pepper. I'll drop these files off, then take you straight to him."
Ben headed for the nearby storage shed at a quick clip. Richie followed. Once the books were put away, Ben led the way toward the wooden building.
Along the path, staff kept waving and calling out friendly greetings. Richie felt like he'd suddenly become a celebrity.
Ben noticed his confusion and chuckled. "Word's out that the massive Lumos spell last night was all you. People are saying you've got unlimited potential, that your talent only comes along once in a century, that your magic could rival Dumbledore's. Bottom line—everyone's blown away by what you did."
Richie's cheeks actually flushed. The praise was so blunt it felt embarrassing.
They reached Paddock 109 in the juvenile section. Hagrid was stretched out beside Norberta, soaking up the sun with her. The second he saw Richie, the half-giant's face lit up. He gave the dragon one last scratch on the back, then hurried into the shelter, peeling off his protective gear.
"Oh, Richie! Glad to see you up and about," Hagrid boomed. "Our visit's almost over, but at least I know Norberta's in good hands. This place is way better than my little hut."
Richie nodded. "Professional work should be left to the professionals."
Ben cleared his throat. "All right, you two—time for the ceremony. The director's going to hand out some real rewards for what you did last night. This is a happy occasion, yeah?"
Hagrid's homesick expression softened. "If they gave me a lifetime visitor pass, I'd be over the moon."
Ben smiled thoughtfully. "You never know."
---
A short while later Ben led them out onto the open Romanian plains. Sanctuary staff had quickly put together a small stage. As the sun dipped low and the sky burned red with sunset, the commendation ceremony began.
A powerfully built middle-aged man stepped onto the platform. Forty-plus keepers, plus Richie and Hagrid, all looked up at him. In one corner, two Daily Prophet reporters had their magical cameras ready.
"That's our director, Wilde Raymondes," Charlie whispered, appearing beside Richie. "He built this whole sanctuary from the ground up."
Wilde raised a hand and the crowd fell silent.
"Last night three high-risk dragons broke loose," he said, voice carrying easily across the plains. "I'm proud that none of you panicked. You followed protocol and held the line."
"Charlie!"
Charlie straightened.
"You led the night search team and brought two of those dragons back in. Flawless execution."
"Lina!"
Lina lifted her chin proudly from the crowd.
"You single-handedly calmed the raging Hebridean Black in the juvenile pens and bought everyone else the time they needed to reinforce the barriers."
"And every single one of you—professional, calm, fearless—built the walls that kept this place standing. You are the soul of the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary!"
Wilde paused, letting the words sink in. "For that, I'm awarding bonuses to every outstanding keeper here tonight."
The staff burst into excited applause. Nothing beat a little recognition—and money made it even better.
Wilde wasn't finished.
"But the brightest light last night didn't come from dragon fire. It came from a twelve-year-old boy. He lit up the Romanian plains with magic and dragged every danger into plain sight. Our visitor from Hogwarts—Richie Harland!"
Wilde pointed straight at Richie. Before he could react, Hagrid scooped him up and set him on his massive shoulder like a trophy.
"Harland!"
"Harland!"
"Harland!"
The keepers chanted his name. Cameras flashed in the corner.
Richie managed a stiff smile.
Wilde's voice rose again, warm and strong.
"You stayed clear-headed in the flames of a rampaging Romanian Longhorn and used your wand to summon the sun itself! You proved that real courage isn't about age—it's about stepping up when it matters and lighting the darkness with wisdom."
"Therefore, on behalf of the entire Romanian Dragon Sanctuary, I award Richie Harland the Golden Flame Medal!"
A hush fell over the crowd.
"This medal has only ever been given to keepers who saved a dragon's life. Today it belongs to you—a boy who showed the courage to protect life itself."
The applause exploded. Richie was hoisted even higher as cheers rolled across the plains.
---
The rewards didn't stop at the medal. Both Richie and Hagrid received permanent visitor passes. Hagrid looked like he might burst with happiness.
Before they left, they got one last treat: a short ride on a tame dragon, circling high above the sanctuary. Only then, surrounded by cheers and applause, did they finally head home.
Richie had a pretty good idea what the director's little show was really about—publicity for the sanctuary. Still, it had already happened. All he could do was hope he hadn't been used too obviously. A little fame for a second-year student shouldn't cause any real trouble.
Right?