Hermione knocked on the door to Hagrid's hut. No one answered. Hermione knocked again, then turned to face Ron and Harry. "Well? I guess we'll have to try back later."
"Oh, for goodness sake, Hermione," Ron flung the door open, and stepped inside. Hermione gasped. The hut was a mess. The table was overturned and all of Hagrid's belongings were strewn around the floor.
"What happened here?" wondered Harry.
"I dunno, but --" Ron was interrupted by a greasy voice.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?"
They whirled around to see none other than Professor Snape looming over them.
"Looking for something, Potter? Weasley? Granger?" Snape's eyes darted from Harry to Ron to Hermione.
"No, sir. We came to visit Hagrid," whispered Hermione softly.
"A likely tale. 10 points from Gryffindor each, and detentions for you all."
"But --"
"No 'buts,' Granger. Back to the school all of you."
The three trooped off towards Hogwarts, muttering to each other.
"I bet it was Snape who trashed Hagrid's hut, the overgrown bat," said Ron darkly.
"I don't think he would do that to another teacher," protested Hermione.
"Oh Hermione, honestly. You seem to think teachers can commit no wrongs," said Harry.
* * * *
Mrs. Norris purred happily as Filch scolded Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Making messes, that's all you students are capable of! Well tonight, you're going to find out what it's like to clean up the messes." Filch handed each of the three a mop, and sent them off to the entrance hall.
"Messes, indeed. We weren't the ones who made that mess," complained Hermione as she mopped the flagged stone floor.
"You know, we never found out where Hagrid was that afternoon," said Harry thoughtfully.
"Probably out chasing after some monster," suggested Ron.
"But he was supposed to be meeting us," Hermione said.
Suddenly Peeves swooped by, cackling merrily.
"Having fun mopping?" he asked with glee.
"Go away, Peeves," Harry said fiercely."
"Punished for a mess we didn't make, eh, kiddies?"
Hermione looked at Peeves suspiciously. "What do you know about that, Peeves?"
"Won't tell!"
"Please?"
Peeves was obviously very pleased with himself. "Won't tell, won't tell," he chanted gaily.
Suddenly a figure burst through the door of the castle.
The three students and ghost looked up, all startled.
* * * *
"Oh, for goodness sake, Hermione," Ron flung the door open, and stepped inside. Hermione gasped. The hut was a mess. The table was overturned and all of Hagrid's belongings were strewn around the floor.
"What happened here?" wondered Harry.
"I dunno, but --" Ron was interrupted by a greasy voice.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?"
They whirled around to see none other than Professor Snape looming over them.
"Looking for something, Potter? Weasley? Granger?" Snape's eyes darted from Harry to Ron to Hermione.
"No, sir. We came to visit Hagrid," whispered Hermione softly.
"A likely tale. 10 points from Gryffindor each, and detentions for you all."
"But --"
"No 'buts,' Granger. Back to the school all of you."
The three trooped off towards Hogwarts, muttering to each other.
"I bet it was Snape who trashed Hagrid's hut, the overgrown bat," said Ron darkly.
"I don't think he would do that to another teacher," protested Hermione.
"Oh Hermione, honestly. You seem to think teachers can commit no wrongs," said Harry.
* * * *
Mrs. Norris purred happily as Filch scolded Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Making messes, that's all you students are capable of! Well tonight, you're going to find out what it's like to clean up the messes." Filch handed each of the three a mop, and sent them off to the entrance hall.
"Messes, indeed. We weren't the ones who made that mess," complained Hermione as she mopped the flagged stone floor.
"You know, we never found out where Hagrid was that afternoon," said Harry thoughtfully.
"Probably out chasing after some monster," suggested Ron.
"But he was supposed to be meeting us," Hermione said.
Suddenly Peeves swooped by, cackling merrily.
"Having fun mopping?" he asked with glee.
"Go away, Peeves," Harry said fiercely."
"Punished for a mess we didn't make, eh, kiddies?"
Hermione looked at Peeves suspiciously. "What do you know about that, Peeves?"
"Won't tell!"
"Please?"
Peeves was obviously very pleased with himself. "Won't tell, won't tell," he chanted gaily.
Suddenly a figure burst through the door of the castle.
The three students and ghost looked up, all startled.
* * * *