Like A Flower Blooming

Chapter 15

I got a little more attention than I would have liked about the match. I spent more time down at Hagrid’s rustic hut. We quickly learned to hide the rock cakes in our pockets that broke our teeth if we bit down on them. 

Ron and Hagrid started talking about the robbery that had happened at Gringotts. 

“ They think they were Dark Wizards. But why would you break into a vault that was completely empty?” asked Ron. 

Hagrid looked suddenly slightly nervous and asked, “ More tea?”

“ Hagrid? You know something? Don’t you?” 

Hagrid muttered something that vaguely sounded like “ I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about?”

“ Hagrid? The package? Was that what the thieves were looking for?” I asked.

“ Put that idea out of your head. That information is strictly between me, Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel,” said Hagrid. 

“ Nicolas Flamel? Who’s Nicolas Flamel?” I asked.

“ No one... No one... Next you’re going to find out about Fluffy,” muttered Hagrid, looking furious with himself. We looked at each other and agreed silently that Hagrid was going insane. Ron desperately tried to catch the subject to my game.

“ What about the match? With Snape trying to kill Ari?” asked Ron.

“ What?” said Hagrid.

“ We saw Snape muttering a jinx while Ari’s broom went insane. I’ve read about them and you’ve got to keep eye contact. Snape wasn’t blinking. When I set his cloak on fire, Ari’s broom was fine,” Hermione answered, staring at Hagrid intimately. 

“ You’re imagining it. You guys have hated Snape since his first lesson. I’m sure you’re just exaggerating it..” Hagrid reassured himself.

“ Hagrid... One, Snape started it. Two, I believe Hermione and Ron. If they say so, it happened that way. Plus one more minute on that bucking broom and I would have been dead. My life has been saved by too many chances,” I answered, swallowing the lump in my throat. 

“ Kiddos..” Hagrid started. Then I remembered something and everything clicked.

“ Didn’t you say that some of Voldemort’s,” I ignored the shivers and the “ Don’t-Say-His-Name’s” and continued,” supporters were still free and not in prison and that’s why I had to stay incognito all summer when I found out I was a witch! What if Snape’s one of them?” 

“ Ok, Ok. Now, Ari, now you’re getting paranoid. If Dumbledore trusts Snape, then so do I and then so should the three of you. You’re too nosy in other people’s affairs,” said Hagrid, shaking his head. 

“ But...” I opened my mouth.

“ No, it’s getting late. Go up to the castle and to dinner. By the way, congrats on the win, Ari. I knew you could do it!” said Hagrid, ruffling my hair. I straightened it out and rolled my eyes at the grin that Ron wasn’t able to keep off his face. I stepped on his foot as hard as I could, smiled at the ‘ OW!!!’ and walked up to the castle, scattering rock cakes out of my pocket onto the ground and trying to get the taste of bitter tea and rock cake out of my mouth. 

Looks like it’s not going to happen.