Being His Daughter CONTINUED

Hagrid's Return

The next morning came and I decided to push all thoughts about moving things with just my mind away. I'd stared at the wardrobe all night and it hadn't budged, so there was no sense in entertaining the dumb idea anymore. Plus I had better things to focus on, like how Hagrid had finally returned. When I saw him seated at the staff table, I gasped loudly. His entire large face was covered in bruises, welts, and dried blood. Draco tried to grab my arm as I raced forward, but I slipped away from him and hurried up to the staff table.

"Hagrid!" I exclaimed.

"Sierra!" he bellowed back happily, nearly knocking over his goblet as he reached his hand forward towards mine. I wanted to jump across the table and hug him, but I restrained myself and grasped his hand instead. It was also covered in cuts and bruises.

"Hagrid, what on earth happened to you?" I asked, turning his hand over as I inspected it in disbelief.

He yanked it back, almost ripping my arm off, and waved his hand dismissively. "Don't ye worry about it. I'm just glad ter be back. I've got lots of excitin' creatures I'm gon ter' show ye this year, and I'm gon ter start off strong today, you'll see." He smiled excitedly.

I grinned. "That's great, Hagrid, but really–"

"Hem, hem."

I whipped my head to the right to see the toad sitting a few staff chairs down, smiling at me disgustingly. "Students should be–"

I turned away from her and groaned loudly, trying to tune her out. Hagrid twitched behind his huge beard, seeming to be trying not to smile. I lowered my voice to a whisper and leaned across toward him. "You should make sure these creatures are... safe, Hagrid. That toad down there is annoying and will try anything to get you fired if what you're doing isn't Ministry approved–"

"Miss Riddle–" Umbridge began again.

"I'm leaving," I snapped at her. When I turned my glare away from her cold eyes, I caught Snape looking at me warningly.

I rolled my eyes and then gave Hagrid a warm smile. "Just be careful, and see you in class later."

"Ah, I got it, Sierra, don' you worry."

When I got back to the Slytherin table, Draco was complaining about Hagrid being back. I stopped right behind him, my skin warming slightly in ire.

"I mean, really, that oaf can't teach us better than Grubbly Plank. He's a half-breed, first off, and can hardly speak..." Draco trailed off once he realized Airam, Jalen, Theo, and Blaise were all wide-eyed and staring behind him, right at me.

"What's this about half-breeds?" I questioned, making Draco jump and whirl his head around.

"Oh, love!" he said, his cheeks turning pink. "I was just... Well, Grubbly Plank is a better professor, isn't she?"

I glared at him. "Oh yeah, and she'd be an even better one if she were pure-blooded, wouldn't she?"

"Well since you're the one saying it–"

"Draco, you better not ruin Hagrid's class," I warned.

"Yeah, watch out, Malfoy, or she'll burn you," Blaise said quietly, a smile on his face.

"No," I said, "but I won't speak to you for a week. And if you're really rude, it'll be two."

Draco looked down at his plate in defeat, and I smiled to myself before scooching in beside him.

As we all trekked down to the sloping grounds for Care of Magical Creatures, I was starting to feel more nervous for Hagrid. As much as I didn't want to see Umbridge more than I needed to, I hoped I'd be in his class when she inspected it so I could do everything to prevent him from being fired.