𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 (OC x OC)

[002] Chapter 22

Makayla

When I get to Hagrid's shack, I see Harry and Ron in the window. That's odd. What're they doing here? Nevermind that. I need to speak with Harry anyway.

I rush up to the door and slam my fist against the plank as hard as I can. Hagrid shuffles to the door as I hear Harry and Ron find some place to hide. It is after dark, after all. They shouldn't be seen.

Hagrid opens the door and his nervous expression immediately changes to relief. "Oh, Makayla!" he laughs, "Didn't expect to see you tonight."

"Neither did I, but Annelise had different plans," I say, walking into the shack and grabbing at the air in front of the fireplace, taking the Invisibility Cloak off of Harry and Ron. Their faces are shocked that I could even tell where they were. Little do they know, they didn't move far from where I saw them in the window, so it wasn't exactly that hard to spot. "We need to talk about the Chamber of Secrets."

Hagrid puts his finger to his mouth, making a loud, 'SHHHH,' noise, "Keep your voice down, will 'ya!"

"Has anyone been taken into the Chamber itself? Ever?"

"How do 'ya expect me to know?" He asks, dumbfounded by the audacity of the question. If I have to be so honest, I'm feeling a little brave today.

"You know something, Hagrid," I say, setting the Invisibility cloak in Harry's arms, "we know you do."

He glances at Harry and Ron, their expressions concluding that I am correct. Hagrid sighs and says, "Well, alright. It was–"

"Harry!" Ron whisper shouts from the window.

Hagrid, Harry, and I all go to the window. Walking to Hagrid's shack is the Minister of Magic, Dumbledore, and none other than my father. Great. Just what I needed today, an unexpected 'visit' from my father.

"Quick, under the cloak," Hagrid says.

Harry grabs the cloak and swings it on top of Ron, him, and I. We're now completely invisible to everyone but ourselves.

We watch Hagrid open the door for the three of them. The Minister thanks Hagrid kindly, so does Dumbledore, father–not so much. As father walks in, he catches himself looking around disgusted. Yes, this place is a pigstein. It doesn't give him the right to be vocal about it. That's my job.

"Good evening, Hagrid!" the Minister of Magic says, only slightly joyful. Something tells me that he isn't exactly extravagant to be here, but who ever is?

"Good evening, Minister," Hagrid says, shaking the Minister's hand.

"We have some bad attacks on our hands, huh," the Minister says, trying to act like what he says next isn't as shocking as the rest, "do you have anything to do with it?"

"What?" Hagrid asks, "Never!"

"Hagrid, I need you to tell me the truth."

"I am!"

I want to say something, but I can't. If any of us speak, we're done for.

"I'm sorry, Hagrid, but I'm going to have to take you."

"Take me?" he asks frantically, "Take me where?"

"Azkaban."

My heart sinks. Bellatrix is in Azkaban. My mom's cousin is in Azkaban. There are so many people in Azkaban who deserve it. Hagrid doesn't deserve it.

"Oh."

Dumbledore stands there, "Lucius? May I ask why you're here?"

"Well," father says, "the Ministry has decided that you haven't been doing good enough at protecting the children at Hogwarts, so the Ministry is requiring you to step down."

I feel a tightness in my chest. Why must father do this? Doesn't he know we are safer with Dumbledore as headmaster? Oh, right. He doesn't care. He never will. The only person he cares for is Draco, and that's a fact.

"Oh, well alright," Dumbledore replies.

Excuse me? What? Why is he allowing this? He's the most powerful sorcerer in the world!

Father walks Dumbledore out of the shack and Cornelius Fudge looks at Hagrid. Hagrid stands there awkwardly, swinging his arms side to side, "Well, if anyone wishes to know, they must follow the spiders, yep!"

Spiders? Oh heck no. Not happening.

Cornelius Fudge walks Hagrid out of the shack. Now Harry, Ron, and I are alone. Hagrid just went to Azkaban. Dumbledore was just forced to step down from headmaster of Hogwarts. What in the world?

"Alright, Makayla," Harry takes the Invisibility cloak off of the three of us, "what were you doing here?"

"I was coming to see Hagrid about what you told me earlier. I suspect you were as well."

He glances at me, up and down, in some sort of judgemental way, and nods. I sigh, and notice movement by the window. The boys' gazes follow mine. Our eyes land on a trail of spiders crawling out the window.

'Follow the spiders.' Hagrid was telling us what to do!

"Let's follow them," I say, going toward the door.

"Follow them? Are you bloody mental?" Ron asks, complete fear controlling his voice.

I glance at Harry, annoyed, and he shrugs, then I look back at Ron, "Hagrid told us to follow the spiders, so we might as well."

Ron audibly weeps as he follows Harry and I out the door. The spiders are going into the Dark Forest. Great. Hagrid wanted us to die. At least it'll be when no one's watching. That's much less embarrassing.