Kassandra Bauer and the Order of the Phoenix. (Book 5)

Chapter 19: Hagrid's Tale.

"Hagrid!" I yelled. It was only seconds after Hermione's announcement, Harry had sprinted up to the boys dorms to fetch the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map. 

We crept through the Portrait Hole and covered ourselves hastily in the Cloak. Ron had grown so much that he now needed to crouch to prevent his feet showing- then, moving slowly and cautiously, we proceeded down the many staircases, pausing at intervals to check the map for signs of Filch or Mrs. Norris. Lucky for us, the only one we saw was Nearly Headless Nick, who was gliding along absent minded humming something that sounded very similar to Weasley is our King. We crept across the Entrance Hall and out into the silent, snowy grounds. And I could see little golden squares of light ahead and smoke coiling up from Hagrid's chimney. Harry moved first and set off at a quick march, the rest of us jostled and bumped along behind him. We crunched excitedly through the thickening snow until at last we reached the wooden front door. When Harry raised his fist and knocked three times, a dog started barking frantically inside.

"Hagrid! It's us!" I called through the keyhole.

"Shoulda known!" Came the gruff voice of Hagrid. 

We beamed at each other under the Cloak. I couldn't wait to see Hagrid again. And we could tell by Hagrid's voice that he was pleased. "Bin home three seconds... out of the way, Fang... out of the way, yeh dozy dog..." 

The bolt was drawn back, the door creaked open and Hagrid's head appeared in the gap. 

Hermione screamed. 

"Merlin's beard, keep it down!" Hagrid hastily, staring wildly over our heads. "Under that Cloak, are yeh? Well, get in, get in!" 

"I'm sorry!" Hermione gasped, as the five of us squeezed past Hagrid into the house and pulled the Cloak off ourselves so he could see us. "I just- oh, Hagrid!" 

"It's nothing, it's nothing!" Hagrid said hastily, shutting the door behind us and hurrying to close all the curtains, but Hermione continued to gaze up at him in horror. 

"Hagrid!" I gave him a big hug. "I've missed you."

Hagrid laughed. "Kassie. So wonderful ter see yeh, again." While also giving me a hug. He was really squeezing me, but I didn't care. "Yeh've gotten so big." He noted. 

It was only then that I noticed that I could see what Hermione had gasped about. Hagrid had looked like he had been a part of a big battle. His hair was mattered with congealed blood and his left eye had been reduced to a puffy slit amid a mass of purple and black bruising. There were many cuts on his face and hands, some of them still bleeding, and his was moving gingerly, which made me suspect that he had broken ribs. It was obvious that he had only just got home: a thick black traveling cloak layed over the back of a chair and a haversack large enough to carry several small children that leaned against the wall inside the door. Hagrid, who was twice the size of a normal man, was now limping over to the fire and placed a copper kettle over it.

"What happened to you?" Harry demanded while Fang danced around us.

"Told yeh, nuthin'." Hagrid answered firmly. "Want a cup?" 

"Come off it." Ron said. "You're in a right state!" 

"I'm tellin' yeh, I'm fine." Hagrid dismissed, straightening up and turning to beam at us, but wincing. "Blimey, it's good ter see yeh five again- had good summers, did yeh?"

"Hagrid, were you attacked?" I asked. 

"Fer the las' time, it's nuthin'!" Hagrid replied firmly. 

"Would you say it was nothing if one of us turned up with a pound of mince instead of a face?" Ron demanded.