Chapter 14 - Goblins ? Giants ? Hogwarts ?

"Don't you think it's a little strange.." Lupin said his thoughts out loud to the gang as they, along with the newly found james, walked back towards the tents, "That Dumbledore closes the school a week early and then these two things happen."

The group were intrested but not as much as Lupin who now raised his voice.

"An army of Goblins, Giants foot prints." He said turning to them, "Something big is about to happen at Hogwarts."

"Listen," James said, clearly and slowly, "I just told you that I was in Hagrid's Hut and he mentioned nothing about any goblins in the grounds or giants."

"Well maybe that's because Hagrid doesn't know about it." Lupin countered.

The group stared at him.

"If Hagrid doesn't know about it," Sirius said, "Then there isn't anything happening."

"Well then.." Lupin seemed to be finding anything that would make them set of on an adventure. "Maybe it's a secert !" Lupin added finaly.

"Hagrid doesn't keep secerts from us," James countered, "He trusts us."

"Ah !" Lupin said as if he'd found a beautiful diamond. "But Dumbledore trusts Hagrid. If he made him promise then he would even tell us."

The group sat in silence.

Minutes past.

"But still," Wormtail said queitly, "It isn't our business."

The silence returned.

"But then," Sirius muttered, "The curiosity killed the cat, not the dog."

"Yes !" Lupin muttered, "Sirius is in ! Anyone else ?"

"Okay."

"Yes James I knew you'd come around. Will use the invisability Cloak and go in through the shreiking shack. We'll report back our findings."

***

The tunnel that went from the shreiking shack to Hogwarts was long and dark but with their wands lit the three made their way down the tunnel without any problems.

They arrived at the hole and Lupin pushed the small hidden button that would freeze the Whomping Willow tree.

As they made their way out of the hole the cool air hit them in the face and they all felt that they were home.

"Where now ?" Sirius muttered from under the invisiblity cloak.

"Back where ya come from." Came the voice from behind them.

It was Hagrid. They paused. But it was no use.

"C'mon, show yer selfs." Hagrid boomed and one by one they made their way out of the cloak.

"Should 'ave known it was you three." Hagrid said staring at them.

"Hagrid we.." James began.

"I know very well why your'll here." Hagrid said. "Smart kids you are."

He smiled for a breif second. Then suddenly his senses returned.

"But you should know better." He said, "Finding a ruddy great snake skin then looking for the snake it belonged to."

"But Hagrid," Lupin said. "We never saw any snake skin, we just saw the Goblins and foot prints."

"Oh," Hagrid said, "Right."

But before any more could be said there was a large explosion and the great hall windows shattered.

"What in the.."