Percy Jackson and the Hound of Hogwarts [Book 3]

39) Hagrid's Hut

We patrolled that night. Seamus and I searched the entire third floor, and didn't find a thing. No one else found anything, either.

Throughout the next day, we could see that security was being clearly amped. Flitwick was teaching the front doors to recognize a picture of Black. Filch was covering up ever tiny crack in the walls. Sir Cadogan had been fired. The Fat Lady was back, and had only agreed to return if she'd be guarded. The school hired several burly trolls for the job.

Harry had shown me the secret passage behind the statue of the one-eyed witch a while back. It appeared that only Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and I knew about it. We were also the only ones who new about the map.

The Marauders Map was really amazing. A map of Hogwarts was already magnificent, but one that showed everyone there? That was even wilder.

"D'you reckon we should tell anyone?" Harry asked Ron and I when we passed the statue one day.

"We know he's not coming in through Honeydukes," Ron said. "We'd' expect heard if the shop had been broken into."

I could tell Harry was glad about that.

Ron had become a sort of celebrity. He was still clearly shaken about the nights events, but would happily tell anyone who asked what had happened. A lot of unnecessary detail added.

"Why though?" Ron asked with furrowed brows after a group of second year girls had gotten the story. "Why did he run?"

"He must've known he'd have a job getting back out of the castle once you'd yelled and woken people up," Harry said thoughtfully. "He'd've had to kill the whole House to get back through the portrait hole... then he would've met the teachers...."

Neville was much less of a celebrity. McGonagall was so angry with him that she banned him from all future Hogsmeade visits, given him detention, and forbidden him from knowing the password to the tower. It didn't help that he kept forgetting he could just ask Hogwarts to let him in. The worst punishment he received, however, was sent to him from his grandmother by owl two days later during breakfast.

A Howler.

I looked up when I saw Neville sprinting out of the hall, a letter clutched in his hand. A moment later, the magically amplified shrieks of his grandmother rang through the air. I felt too bad for him to laugh like some of the other kids.

Not much long after that, Harry came over to my table, saying, "Hagrid wants to have tea with us at six. Meet us in the Entrance Hall." I nodded, and he left. I smiled, happy to get to see Hagrid again. It had been too long.

***

I walked with Harry and Ron down the steps towards the Entrance Hall at six o'clock, where Hagrid was already waiting for us.

"All right, Hagrid!" Ron said. "S'pose you want to hear about Saturday night, do you?"

"I've already heard all abou' it," Hagrid opened the front doors and lead us outside.

"Oh," Ron said, slightly put out.

"I'd love to hear you tell it again, Ron."

"You were there, Percy."

"I'd still love to hear you tell it."

***

When we first walked into Hagrid's hut, Buckbeak was lying on his massive quilt, his wings folded right against him, and he was eating a plate of dead ferrets. There was also a very large and ugly yellow and orange tie hanging on the top of Hagrid's wardrobe. And a large, hairy brown suit.

"What are they for, Hagrid?" Harry asked, nodding towards the clothing.

"Buckbeak's case against the Committee fer the Disposal o' Dangerous Creatures," Hagrid said. "This Friday. Him an' me'll be goin' down ter London together. I've booked two beds on the Knight Bus...."

I furrowed my brows for a moment, confused. Then I realized that Buckbeak must have been going on trial for hurting Draco. I was surprised to see the guilty looks on Ron and Harry's faces.

"I got somethin' ter discuss with you two," Hagrid said after handing us our drinks, nodding towards Harry and Ron. He sat between Harry and me, and I felt ridiculously small seated next to him. He had an unusually serious look on his face.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Hermione," Hagrid said.

"What about her?" Ron frowned.

"She's in a righ' state, that's what. She's bin comin' down ter visit me a lot since Chris'mas. Bin feelin' lonely. Firs' yeh weren' talking to her because o' the Firebolt, now yer not talkin' to her because her cat—"

"— ate Scabbers!" Ron interrupted angrily.

"Because her cat acted like all cats do," Hagrid said annoyed. "She's cried a fair few times, yeh know. Goin' through a rough time at the moment. Bitten off more'n she can chew, if yeh ask me, all the work she's tryin' ter do. Still found time ter help me with Buckbeak's case, mind.... She's found some really good stuff fer me... reckon he'll stand a good chance now...."

"Hagrid, we should've helped as well — sorry—" Harry started.

"I'm not blamin' yeh!" Hagrid waves the apology away. "Gawd knows yeh've had enough ter be gettin' on with. I've seen yeh practicin' Quidditch ev'ry hour o' the day an' night — but I gotta tell yeh, I thought you two'd value yer friend more'n broomsticks or rats. Tha's all."

Harry and Ron shared an uncomfortable look. I smiled, hoping they'd make up with Hermione.

"Really upset, she was, when Black nearly stabbed yeh, Ron. She's got her heart in the right place, Hermione has, an' you two not talkin' to her—"

"If she'd just get rid of that cat, I'd speak to her again!" Ron said, angry. "But she's still sticking up for it! It's a maniac, and she won't hear a word against it."

"Ah, well, people can be a bit stupid abou' their pets," Hagrid stared at Ron. Buckbeak then spat a ferret bone onto the table.

We spent the rest of our visit talking about Quidditch. At nine o'clock, Hagrid lead us back up to the castle.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Today is Halloween. Halloweeeen. It's been a pretty good day so far, spending it in my bed... in my bed some more... playing CoD in my bed... yeah. I don't even have any candy. But I live for the spirit of Halloween. Even if this year it wasn't very fun. We're watching Scooby Doo rn. That's pretty neat. Um. Yesterday my little sister had a sleepover. The girl she had a sleepover with laughed really hard. She changed her socks while she was laughing, and that isn't as weird as it sounds. But anyway she stopped laughing, and asked why she was wearing different socks. Turns out this kid laughed so hard she got amnesia. Turns out this is normal. I am a f r a i d. Imagine possessing such power. Would be glorious. Sudhwihe there's a smudge on my glasses kill me. Giant Robot Love. My dog is touching me. Today is g o o d. Love makes you all tingly. Light-headed and pretty. Just like a 700lb robot invading our city. Ah I want candy. So much. Hweh. Oh it's an ad. Have any of you guys read the Alex Rider series? Well apparently there is a TV show. It came out this year. I haven't seen much of it, but it seems pretty decent. I'm looking forward to it. There's not a lot of lady mermen. OH ITS ROAD RUNNER HEE HOO. Wtf that is not Road Runner and Wile E Coyote why is it 3D. Has it always been 3D. There's no way. This is scaring me. I'm just going to go now. Yeah.

I hope you all have had a frightful Halloween, and I will see you on Monday!