14. Hagrid's secret
(April 15th, 1996)
'I don't understand what's going on with him' said Hermione, spreading her arms helplessly 'For two weeks he has been behaving very strangely. All the time he is so mournful and depressed; it's not like Harry.'
'And the worst is he hardly ever talks to us,' added Ron 'So how can we know what is wrong?'
They were sitting on a large tree trunk in front of the Hagrid's hut. Bright, spring sun was warming their faces but it couldn't scatter their anxiety. They've been worrying about Harry. They felt that Dumbledore must have told him something that bothered him so much. But Harry was silent as the grave and they couldn't draw out if him any word about the mysterious conversation. So they could only conjecture.
Of course Hagrid was also perturbed by Harry's misery though he couldn't suppress his great pride and delight. Everybody who knew Hagrid could easily understand the reason, looking into the rocky cave built by the students in the autumn.
The gargoyles hatched tree days ago. Hermione and Ron had never been so surprised in their lives as in the moment, when entering the cave in order to change the litter (a boring duty at the beginning of every Hagrid's lesson) they found there, instead of a pile of the stone eggs, a hundred of small, grey creatures with bat-like wings and long, thin tails, which was systematically crushing the stones into a white powder with their sharp, strong beaks.
Hagrid was beaming. He sent the students for the new supply of the stones because, as he explained, the gargoyles fed on the minerals contained in the rocks. When they came back after an hour loaded with the kilograms of the stones, the cave has just started to crumble. The gluttonous creatures had already crushed most of its inner walls.
Hagrid was delighted of their good appetite. He was beaming at the very thought how beautiful and shapely they would be when they grew up. The word "grew up" made the students a bit uneasy. They realised they hadn't the faintest idea what size an adult gargoyle could reach. And whether it became a predator.
Hagrid dispelled at least some of those fears. He explained that the gargoyles fed on the minerals for all their lives. But the rest didn't sound so optimistic. A fully-grown creature reaches thirty centimetres in height and two meters in the wing-spread. A vision of a herd of a hundred grey creatures circling above the Hogwart walls and destroying them systematically made Ron very uneasy.
Hermione had to think about the same since after the lesson she asked Hagrid about how he was going to feed his gluttonous little friends when the supply of stones in the neighbourhood ran out. And considering their appetite it could happen in a month.
Hagrid, who was just building a metal cage around the remnants of the cave, was clearly abashed. It seemed that he had missed that detail. He started to pull his thick, black beard, looking at the grey creatures with a truly paternal affectation.
'Well...' he sighed finally 'Send'em back to Magnus. Will have much food in Norway. I'll write to him...' he hesitated and looked at the gargoyles once more 'But I think I keep one...' he muttered.
Three days after hatching the gargoyles grew and darkened slightly. And still they were hungry. Sitting in front of the hut Hermione and Ron could hear a regular clutter coming from the cage. Hagrid took his eyes off the gargoyles.
'How can I help yeh?' he asked looking from Ron to Hermione 'Maybe I talk to him?' he proposed enthusiastically but he frowned at once 'Nah, can't, leavin' tomorrow...'
'And do you know what I think?' asked Hermione suddenly, watching Hagrid attentively 'That it's somehow connected with You-Know-Who.'
'Him?' Hagrid sounded surprised but Hermione caught a false note in his voice 'Nah, you imagine...'
'Hermione is right,' added Ron 'Not only Harry is in a bad mood. Look at the teachers. Dumbledore seems weary and sullen and almost every day discusses something with professor Starlight. Snape also must worry about something since he has never been so malicious before. And Malfoy? You can deny but we know that something is in the wind. And You-Know-Who is behind it.'
Hagrid mumbled something and started to contemplate a snail crossing the path. Hermione and Ron exchanged the looks and nodded.
'If everything is ok so why you go to Asia every month to guard the behemots?' the asked in unison.
An earthquake together with a cyclone wouldn't make a bigger impression on Hagrid. He turned pale. He stood up. He looked around widely. He sat again. His hands were shaking.
'How...you know?' he whispered hoarsely "Dumbledore kill me...'
He hid his face in his hands and began to sway forwards and backwards moaning like a wounded bear.
'Hagrid, don't worry,' Hermione tried to comfort him 'Only we know the truth.'
'How do you know?' repeated Hagrid staring at the girl with desperation.
'Well,' Hermione couldn't suppress a satisfied smile 'In January we had a lesson about the behemots. When I was writing an essay I had to check something in the 'Bestiarium' and I read that behemots loved the lily bulbs. I remembered at once that we had seen you digging them from the ground.'
'How could be so careless!' howled Hagrid tearing his hair 'What he will say!'
'But it's not your fault,' Ron assured him heartily 'We would guess anyway. Last month when we had come to clean here a bit, I found a silver fur on the floor.'
If Ron wanted to cheer up Hagrid he didn't succeed at all. The Keeper of the Keys hid his head between his knees and began to sob silently.
'Hagrid, calm down,' Hermione sounded concerned 'Let's take a cup of tea.'
Hagrid got up obediently and let them lead him into the hut, completely unaware of what he was doing. Ron seated him in his armchair and Hermione lit the fire under the kettle. After several minutes an aromatic smell filled the room. Hagrid cheered up a bit. Wiping away his tears he reached for a huge mug and drank a small gulp.
'Good tea,' he sobbed 'red, Chinese...' he stopped talking and groaned heart-rendingly.
'Exactly...' whispered Hermione 'For how long have you drunk the Chinese tea?'
Ten minutes had passed before Hagrid calmed down. Ron and Hermione had to swear they would not tell anybody about the behemots.
'Must understand' it's very important' said Hagrid firmly 'Dumbledore 's afraid that You-Know-Who could use'em in the battle. Resistance to magic, see. So I go to'em every month to check i' are safe. They're superb!' he dreamed smiling good-naturedly 'Think we made friends. Would tell me if somebody else was 'ere. I tame'em with lilies,' he added boastfully 'Magnus gave me idea...'
'Magnus?!' cried Hermione and Ron in unison 'You told Devilson about the behemots?!'
'No, o' course not.' Hagrid bridled up 'Who you think I am? Dumbledore forbade. I only asked, in theory, what he would do to tame behemot. An' he told: lilies. He knows animals...'
Ron and Hermione looked at each other uneasily. They were sure that Devilson could guess the truth from the naive questions of Hagrid. But how could he use it? In fact, they didn't know anything about him. Beside a mysterious attitude of Snape and some confusing hints of Sirius, they had no reason to suspect him. But it didn't escape their notice that since the Christmas Magnus Devilson has never come to Hogwart again though the 'Daily Prophet' regularly informed about the visits of the Norwegian experts. What did it mean? Was it connected with the attack on professor Starlight? They had no idea.
But one think was clear. The would feel much more comfortable if Magnus Devilson didn't know that Dumbledore had been guarding so closely the only behemot herd in the world.
* * *
(May 1st, 1996)
Vega was pacing up and down the Dumbledore's office knocking angrily the furniture she was passing by.
'We cannot agree!' she hissed 'I will not let Devilson into Hogwart!'
Dumbledore sighed and shook his head resignedly.
'You know it doesn't depend on me.' he aid in a weary voice 'It's Minister's order. If I refuse he will close the school. And this is what I cannot allow. Especially now...'
'Does that idiot really believe that the problems with megaports are connected with our defence system?' snorted Vega angrily 'It's rubbish! Nobody in the Department of Teleportation believes that. But our dear minister trusts every opinion of the "famous Norwegian expert". And that is what Devilson wants. He built up this silly theory to get into Hogwart. It's obvious!'
'You're right,' nodded Dumbledore 'I think Magnus realises perfectly well why I refused him to come to Hogwart after what had happened in January. He knows we suspect him.'
Vega stopped and fixed her eyes in Dumbledore.
'That's it,' she snarled 'he knows that but he still plays his game with us. He did his best to get to Hogwart though it's risky for him...' she frowned 'I wish I knew why...'
Dumbledore clasped his hands.
'So do I,' he sighed 'I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen. We must keep our eyes open.'
'In any case I won't take my eyes off him,' said Vega.
Fast steps sounded in the corridor and somebody opened the door without knocking. Vega turned around. It was Snape.
'He has just arrived,' he informed shortly 'and not alone. He is accompanied by Remus Lupin.'
Mentioning the last name Severus couldn't suppress antipathy. He had a biting remark on a tip of his tongue but he restrained himself when he looked at Vega.
'That's great!' exclaimed the witch ignoring a nasty grimace on the Snape's face 'We will finally know what happened to those megaports.'
'Since when Lupin is an expert in teleportation...' Snape couldn't stop himself.
Vega looked at him coldly and she left the office without a word.
. . .
The yard looked rather like a colourful and noisy Diagon Alley than like a ground of the school. Two rows of stalls, full of the various stuff, were stretching for hundred meters. In the narrow path between them throngs of the students were pushing, glad that if they couldn't go to Hogsmead this year, Hogsmead came to them instead.
Remus Lupin saw Harry near the sweets' stall. He waved to him but the boy didn't notice. While Ron and Hermione were filling their pockets with the bars of chocolate Harry was staring absent-minded at some distant point on the horizon. A deep concern appeared on Remus' face. He sighed and stared to push through the groups of people. Some of them, recognising a former DADA teacher, greeted him heartily. But there were some, mainly Slytherins, who were whispering between themselves and pointing at the wizard. Remus could hear such words like "werewolf" and "dangerous". Many faces expressed an explicit anxiety.
Lupin tried not to pay attention. He passed a huge stall of Madam Rosmerta and was just approaching the sweet shop when Hermione looked back to tell something to Ron.
'Professor Lupin!' she exclaimed surprised.
Harry came back to the real world at once.
'Remus!' he called jumping up 'What are you doing in Hogwart?!'
Remus smiled.
'I'm here officially' he explained 'You know, I work in the Department of Teleportation and we had some problems there lately. Magnus claims that it can be result of a disturbance caused by the DADS. But don't ask me about details. I'm not a specialist. I was sent with Magnus because our main expert fell ill.'
'Devilson is in Hogwart?' cried Ron and Hermione in unison.
'Yes, he is,' assented Remus looking at them slightly astounded 'He is a supervisor of our group. Oh, he's there,' he pointed towards the castle 'Talking with professor Starlight.'
They looked in the same direction. At the foot of the stairs Vega and Magnus stood discussing something very fiercely. In view of a passionate gesticulation it could come to blows in any moment. Remus moved nervously.
'Vega doesn't like this visit,' he muttered 'And, to tell you the truth, I also don't understand what is the connection between the teleports and the Hogwart defence system... But I didn't want to talk about the job. Harry, what is going on?' he asked with concern watching the boy intently 'I can see you are worried. Your last letters weren't too optimistic either. What happened?'
Harry cast down his eyes. He would like so much to share with somebody everything that came upon him three weeks ago: the fact who he was and the fear it filled him with. He knew, however, that he couldn't do that. He had to bear this burden himself, his cursed inheritance.
'I'm ok.,' he said trying to sound lightly 'I'm just a bit tired. We have loads of learning.'
Remus looked at him searchingly, clearly not convinced.
'Harry, remember you can always count on me,' he said 'And on Sirius, of course. He wanted to come here but it would be too risky now. I brought you a letter from him.'
He pulled pout a yellow envelope and handed it to Harry.
'Here you are. Forgive me, but I have to go now,' he smiled apologetically 'I'd like to talk to Vega. But we will see before my departure, I hope. You will be somewhere here, won't you?'
'Sure!' promised Harry 'I will be waiting.'
'See you later, then' said Remus and moved hastily towards the castle.
'What is Sirius writing?' whispered Hermione looking significantly at the letter in Harry's hand.
'Let's see,' he tore open the envelop and began to read 'He is ok...He wish he could visit us...Oh, he says that...' he ceased suddenly and sneezed.
'Bless you!' shouted Lee Jordan who was just passing by.
'Thank...' gasped Harry and he sneezed again.
'Let's go from here!' commanded Hermione 'It's because of those India incenses they kindled at Madam Rosmerta. I hate this smell. My nose tickled too.'
And all of them moved quickly towards the Hagrid's hut. They had to feed Fang.
(April 15th, 1996)
'I don't understand what's going on with him' said Hermione, spreading her arms helplessly 'For two weeks he has been behaving very strangely. All the time he is so mournful and depressed; it's not like Harry.'
'And the worst is he hardly ever talks to us,' added Ron 'So how can we know what is wrong?'
They were sitting on a large tree trunk in front of the Hagrid's hut. Bright, spring sun was warming their faces but it couldn't scatter their anxiety. They've been worrying about Harry. They felt that Dumbledore must have told him something that bothered him so much. But Harry was silent as the grave and they couldn't draw out if him any word about the mysterious conversation. So they could only conjecture.
Of course Hagrid was also perturbed by Harry's misery though he couldn't suppress his great pride and delight. Everybody who knew Hagrid could easily understand the reason, looking into the rocky cave built by the students in the autumn.
The gargoyles hatched tree days ago. Hermione and Ron had never been so surprised in their lives as in the moment, when entering the cave in order to change the litter (a boring duty at the beginning of every Hagrid's lesson) they found there, instead of a pile of the stone eggs, a hundred of small, grey creatures with bat-like wings and long, thin tails, which was systematically crushing the stones into a white powder with their sharp, strong beaks.
Hagrid was beaming. He sent the students for the new supply of the stones because, as he explained, the gargoyles fed on the minerals contained in the rocks. When they came back after an hour loaded with the kilograms of the stones, the cave has just started to crumble. The gluttonous creatures had already crushed most of its inner walls.
Hagrid was delighted of their good appetite. He was beaming at the very thought how beautiful and shapely they would be when they grew up. The word "grew up" made the students a bit uneasy. They realised they hadn't the faintest idea what size an adult gargoyle could reach. And whether it became a predator.
Hagrid dispelled at least some of those fears. He explained that the gargoyles fed on the minerals for all their lives. But the rest didn't sound so optimistic. A fully-grown creature reaches thirty centimetres in height and two meters in the wing-spread. A vision of a herd of a hundred grey creatures circling above the Hogwart walls and destroying them systematically made Ron very uneasy.
Hermione had to think about the same since after the lesson she asked Hagrid about how he was going to feed his gluttonous little friends when the supply of stones in the neighbourhood ran out. And considering their appetite it could happen in a month.
Hagrid, who was just building a metal cage around the remnants of the cave, was clearly abashed. It seemed that he had missed that detail. He started to pull his thick, black beard, looking at the grey creatures with a truly paternal affectation.
'Well...' he sighed finally 'Send'em back to Magnus. Will have much food in Norway. I'll write to him...' he hesitated and looked at the gargoyles once more 'But I think I keep one...' he muttered.
Three days after hatching the gargoyles grew and darkened slightly. And still they were hungry. Sitting in front of the hut Hermione and Ron could hear a regular clutter coming from the cage. Hagrid took his eyes off the gargoyles.
'How can I help yeh?' he asked looking from Ron to Hermione 'Maybe I talk to him?' he proposed enthusiastically but he frowned at once 'Nah, can't, leavin' tomorrow...'
'And do you know what I think?' asked Hermione suddenly, watching Hagrid attentively 'That it's somehow connected with You-Know-Who.'
'Him?' Hagrid sounded surprised but Hermione caught a false note in his voice 'Nah, you imagine...'
'Hermione is right,' added Ron 'Not only Harry is in a bad mood. Look at the teachers. Dumbledore seems weary and sullen and almost every day discusses something with professor Starlight. Snape also must worry about something since he has never been so malicious before. And Malfoy? You can deny but we know that something is in the wind. And You-Know-Who is behind it.'
Hagrid mumbled something and started to contemplate a snail crossing the path. Hermione and Ron exchanged the looks and nodded.
'If everything is ok so why you go to Asia every month to guard the behemots?' the asked in unison.
An earthquake together with a cyclone wouldn't make a bigger impression on Hagrid. He turned pale. He stood up. He looked around widely. He sat again. His hands were shaking.
'How...you know?' he whispered hoarsely "Dumbledore kill me...'
He hid his face in his hands and began to sway forwards and backwards moaning like a wounded bear.
'Hagrid, don't worry,' Hermione tried to comfort him 'Only we know the truth.'
'How do you know?' repeated Hagrid staring at the girl with desperation.
'Well,' Hermione couldn't suppress a satisfied smile 'In January we had a lesson about the behemots. When I was writing an essay I had to check something in the 'Bestiarium' and I read that behemots loved the lily bulbs. I remembered at once that we had seen you digging them from the ground.'
'How could be so careless!' howled Hagrid tearing his hair 'What he will say!'
'But it's not your fault,' Ron assured him heartily 'We would guess anyway. Last month when we had come to clean here a bit, I found a silver fur on the floor.'
If Ron wanted to cheer up Hagrid he didn't succeed at all. The Keeper of the Keys hid his head between his knees and began to sob silently.
'Hagrid, calm down,' Hermione sounded concerned 'Let's take a cup of tea.'
Hagrid got up obediently and let them lead him into the hut, completely unaware of what he was doing. Ron seated him in his armchair and Hermione lit the fire under the kettle. After several minutes an aromatic smell filled the room. Hagrid cheered up a bit. Wiping away his tears he reached for a huge mug and drank a small gulp.
'Good tea,' he sobbed 'red, Chinese...' he stopped talking and groaned heart-rendingly.
'Exactly...' whispered Hermione 'For how long have you drunk the Chinese tea?'
Ten minutes had passed before Hagrid calmed down. Ron and Hermione had to swear they would not tell anybody about the behemots.
'Must understand' it's very important' said Hagrid firmly 'Dumbledore 's afraid that You-Know-Who could use'em in the battle. Resistance to magic, see. So I go to'em every month to check i' are safe. They're superb!' he dreamed smiling good-naturedly 'Think we made friends. Would tell me if somebody else was 'ere. I tame'em with lilies,' he added boastfully 'Magnus gave me idea...'
'Magnus?!' cried Hermione and Ron in unison 'You told Devilson about the behemots?!'
'No, o' course not.' Hagrid bridled up 'Who you think I am? Dumbledore forbade. I only asked, in theory, what he would do to tame behemot. An' he told: lilies. He knows animals...'
Ron and Hermione looked at each other uneasily. They were sure that Devilson could guess the truth from the naive questions of Hagrid. But how could he use it? In fact, they didn't know anything about him. Beside a mysterious attitude of Snape and some confusing hints of Sirius, they had no reason to suspect him. But it didn't escape their notice that since the Christmas Magnus Devilson has never come to Hogwart again though the 'Daily Prophet' regularly informed about the visits of the Norwegian experts. What did it mean? Was it connected with the attack on professor Starlight? They had no idea.
But one think was clear. The would feel much more comfortable if Magnus Devilson didn't know that Dumbledore had been guarding so closely the only behemot herd in the world.
Vega was pacing up and down the Dumbledore's office knocking angrily the furniture she was passing by.
'We cannot agree!' she hissed 'I will not let Devilson into Hogwart!'
Dumbledore sighed and shook his head resignedly.
'You know it doesn't depend on me.' he aid in a weary voice 'It's Minister's order. If I refuse he will close the school. And this is what I cannot allow. Especially now...'
'Does that idiot really believe that the problems with megaports are connected with our defence system?' snorted Vega angrily 'It's rubbish! Nobody in the Department of Teleportation believes that. But our dear minister trusts every opinion of the "famous Norwegian expert". And that is what Devilson wants. He built up this silly theory to get into Hogwart. It's obvious!'
'You're right,' nodded Dumbledore 'I think Magnus realises perfectly well why I refused him to come to Hogwart after what had happened in January. He knows we suspect him.'
Vega stopped and fixed her eyes in Dumbledore.
'That's it,' she snarled 'he knows that but he still plays his game with us. He did his best to get to Hogwart though it's risky for him...' she frowned 'I wish I knew why...'
Dumbledore clasped his hands.
'So do I,' he sighed 'I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen. We must keep our eyes open.'
'In any case I won't take my eyes off him,' said Vega.
Fast steps sounded in the corridor and somebody opened the door without knocking. Vega turned around. It was Snape.
'He has just arrived,' he informed shortly 'and not alone. He is accompanied by Remus Lupin.'
Mentioning the last name Severus couldn't suppress antipathy. He had a biting remark on a tip of his tongue but he restrained himself when he looked at Vega.
'That's great!' exclaimed the witch ignoring a nasty grimace on the Snape's face 'We will finally know what happened to those megaports.'
'Since when Lupin is an expert in teleportation...' Snape couldn't stop himself.
Vega looked at him coldly and she left the office without a word.
The yard looked rather like a colourful and noisy Diagon Alley than like a ground of the school. Two rows of stalls, full of the various stuff, were stretching for hundred meters. In the narrow path between them throngs of the students were pushing, glad that if they couldn't go to Hogsmead this year, Hogsmead came to them instead.
Remus Lupin saw Harry near the sweets' stall. He waved to him but the boy didn't notice. While Ron and Hermione were filling their pockets with the bars of chocolate Harry was staring absent-minded at some distant point on the horizon. A deep concern appeared on Remus' face. He sighed and stared to push through the groups of people. Some of them, recognising a former DADA teacher, greeted him heartily. But there were some, mainly Slytherins, who were whispering between themselves and pointing at the wizard. Remus could hear such words like "werewolf" and "dangerous". Many faces expressed an explicit anxiety.
Lupin tried not to pay attention. He passed a huge stall of Madam Rosmerta and was just approaching the sweet shop when Hermione looked back to tell something to Ron.
'Professor Lupin!' she exclaimed surprised.
Harry came back to the real world at once.
'Remus!' he called jumping up 'What are you doing in Hogwart?!'
Remus smiled.
'I'm here officially' he explained 'You know, I work in the Department of Teleportation and we had some problems there lately. Magnus claims that it can be result of a disturbance caused by the DADS. But don't ask me about details. I'm not a specialist. I was sent with Magnus because our main expert fell ill.'
'Devilson is in Hogwart?' cried Ron and Hermione in unison.
'Yes, he is,' assented Remus looking at them slightly astounded 'He is a supervisor of our group. Oh, he's there,' he pointed towards the castle 'Talking with professor Starlight.'
They looked in the same direction. At the foot of the stairs Vega and Magnus stood discussing something very fiercely. In view of a passionate gesticulation it could come to blows in any moment. Remus moved nervously.
'Vega doesn't like this visit,' he muttered 'And, to tell you the truth, I also don't understand what is the connection between the teleports and the Hogwart defence system... But I didn't want to talk about the job. Harry, what is going on?' he asked with concern watching the boy intently 'I can see you are worried. Your last letters weren't too optimistic either. What happened?'
Harry cast down his eyes. He would like so much to share with somebody everything that came upon him three weeks ago: the fact who he was and the fear it filled him with. He knew, however, that he couldn't do that. He had to bear this burden himself, his cursed inheritance.
'I'm ok.,' he said trying to sound lightly 'I'm just a bit tired. We have loads of learning.'
Remus looked at him searchingly, clearly not convinced.
'Harry, remember you can always count on me,' he said 'And on Sirius, of course. He wanted to come here but it would be too risky now. I brought you a letter from him.'
He pulled pout a yellow envelope and handed it to Harry.
'Here you are. Forgive me, but I have to go now,' he smiled apologetically 'I'd like to talk to Vega. But we will see before my departure, I hope. You will be somewhere here, won't you?'
'Sure!' promised Harry 'I will be waiting.'
'See you later, then' said Remus and moved hastily towards the castle.
'What is Sirius writing?' whispered Hermione looking significantly at the letter in Harry's hand.
'Let's see,' he tore open the envelop and began to read 'He is ok...He wish he could visit us...Oh, he says that...' he ceased suddenly and sneezed.
'Bless you!' shouted Lee Jordan who was just passing by.
'Thank...' gasped Harry and he sneezed again.
'Let's go from here!' commanded Hermione 'It's because of those India incenses they kindled at Madam Rosmerta. I hate this smell. My nose tickled too.'
And all of them moved quickly towards the Hagrid's hut. They had to feed Fang.
