Reflections - Mattheo Riddle

Hagrid Returns

Kirra sprinted down to the her dormitory to fetch the Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map from her trunk before running back up, meeting the boys outside of the Hufflepuff entrance. "Someone is out of breath," Jasper snorted at the girl who had run up and down the stairs very quickly and was wrapped head to toe in jumpers and scarves

'Well, it's cold out there!' she said defensively, as Mattheo grinned down at her, his dimples popping out as he looked at her.

They covered themselves hastily in the Cloak – Theodore had grown so much he now needed to crouch to prevent his feet showing – then, moving slowly and cautiously, they proceeded down the many staircases, pausing at intervals to check on the map for signs of Filch or Mrs Norris. They were lucky; they saw nobody but Nearly Headless Nick, who was gliding along absent-mindedly humming something to himself.

They crept across the Entrance Hall and out into the silent, snowy grounds. With a great leap of her heart, Kirra saw little golden squares of light ahead and smoke coiling up from Hagrid's chimney. She set off at a quick march, the other three jostling and bumping along behind her. They crunched excitedly through the thickening snow until at last they reached the wooden front door. 

When Kirra raised her fist and knocked three times, a dog started barking frantically inside.

'Hagrid, it's us!' Jasper called through the keyhole.

'Shoulda known!' said a gruff voice.

Kirra and Jasper beamed at each other under the Cloak; they could tell by Hagrid's voice that he was pleased. 'Bin home three seconds ... out the way, Fang ... out the way, yeh dozy dog ...'

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

Kirra gasped loudly.

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

'I'm sorry!' Kirra gasped, as the four of them squeezed past Hagrid into the house and pulled the Cloak off themselves so he could see them. 'I just – oh, Hagrid!'

'It's nuthin', it's nuthin' Ophelia!' said Hagrid hastily, shutting the door behind them and hurrying to close all the curtains, but Kirra continued to gaze up at him in horror.

Hagrid's hair was matted 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 he was moving gingerly, which made Kirra suspect broken ribs. It was obvious that he had only just got home; a thick black travelling cloak lay over the back of a chair and a haversack large enough to carry several small children leaned against the wall inside the door. Hagrid himself, twice the size of a normal man, was now limping over to the fire and placing a copper kettle over it.

It made her feel sick to her stomach. It really was happening all over again.

'What happened to you?' Mattheo demanded, while Fang danced around them all, trying to lick their faces.

'Told yeh, nuthin',' said Hagrid firmly. 'Want a cuppa?'

'Come off it Mate,' said Jasper, 'you're in a right state! I mean look at ya, look like you've been locked in a pit with dragons for a week'

'I'm tellin' yeh, I'm fine,' said Hagrid, straightening up and turning to beam at them all, but wincing. 'Blimey, it's good ter see yeh four again – had good summers, did yeh?'

'Hagrid, you've been attacked!' said Theodore. 

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