What Lies Within the Shadows [SEVERUS SNAPE]

The Forbidden Forest-11

I rapped on Hagrid's door, the wood cold beneath my knuckles. The night air was biting, the chill seeping through my cloak and making me shiver. I waited a few more seconds, then knocked again, louder this time. "Helloooo, open the door, it's cold tonight!" I yelled, slamming my hand against the door.

Finally, the door creaked open, and Hagrid's massive frame filled the doorway. He sighed, a crossbow in hand, before placing it down and gesturing me to come in quickly. I stepped inside, the warmth of the hut immediately enveloping me as Hagrid shut the door with a quiet thud.

"You okay?" I asked, concern evident in my voice despite my calm expression.

"Just a lil' on edge, love," Hagrid replied, his voice a low rumble. His eyes, usually warm and twinkling, were clouded with worry. He moved to the fireplace, stirring the embers to life and adding a few logs.

"Is this about the attacks?" I asked, my tone more serious. I took a seat at the large wooden table, watching as Hagrid busied himself with the fire.

"Aye, it is," he admitted, not meeting my eyes. "Can't be too careful these days. Thought yeh might've been someone else."

"Someone else?" I pressed, leaning forward slightly. "Who?"

Hagrid shook his head, his large hands fumbling with a kettle. "Never yeh mind 'bout that. What brings yeh here, (Y/n)?"

I took a deep breath, trying to choose my words carefully. "I saw something earlier... spiders, heading out of the castle. It reminded me of something Lily once mentioned. She thought you might know what's going on."

Hagrid's face paled slightly, his eyes darting to the window as if expecting someone to burst in at any moment. "Spiders, yeh say?" Something about his words made me look at the man, his back turning to me.

I nodded. "Yes, a line of them, leaving the castle. What do you know, Hagrid?"

Before the man could respond, the sound of a knock was heard, something about the fear in Hagrid's eyes sending a shiver down my spine. Hagrid moved his hand from the kettle, quickly pausing his act of pouring us tea before he made his way to the door, holding his crossbow once more.

"Who's there?" he asked as he stepped closer to the door. I stood quickly, grabbing the first thing I could find.

"Why do you have so many weapons..?" I whispered as I looked at the sharp machete in my hands.

The man ignored me as he kicked the front door open, glancing outside. "Hello?" he asked, only to get no response. "Hello?!" he echoed louder.

I tried to peek my head from over Hagrid but to no avail, but when I saw his shoulders loosen and the man sigh, I knew it was fine.

"What was that for?!" a boy yelled, the familiarity making me groan.

"Oh, nothing, I was expecting..." Hagrid looked over to me before shaking his head. "Doesn't matt'r. Come on in. I just made a pot of tea." Harry and Ron entered the hut as Hagrid closed the door, their eyes darting to me quickly as I placed the weapon back where I found it.

"What are you two doing out here?" I asked, crossing my arms and trying to regain some semblance of normalcy.

Harry and Ron exchanged a nervous glance before Harry spoke up. "We were worried about Hermione. We thought Hagrid might know something about the attacks."

I nodded. "Yes, a line of them, leaving the castle. What do you know, Hagrid?"

Before the man could respond, the sound of a knock echoed through the hut. The fear in Hagrid's eyes sent a shiver down my spine. Hagrid paused, his hand hovering over the kettle before he grabbed his crossbow again.