Chapter 26: Hagrid's Job

23. Briefly explain the purposes and uses of the three spells used to defeat the Water Sprints that inhabited the dwellings of ponds and lakes. Write an example on how they would defeat the creatures and on how the Water Sprints were destroyed to annihilation.

Harry glanced at the extremely large timepiece sitting on the desk. 12:35. Only half an

hour before Professor Mcgonagall assembled their History N.E.W.Ts and everyone

gathered for a succulent lunch and relaxing halt before the seventh years returned to their

Transfiguration N.E.W.Ts.

Harry glimpsed at Hermione. She was jotting down so swiftly, that Harry was surprised

that the paper hadn't burst into flames yet.

Returning to his paper, Harry began writing.

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"I'm afraid that we have had no luck in the search for Luna."

Frances could only gawk. She felt like shouting, screaming even, but knowing that they

would not help, she kept her mouth shut.

"This is dreadful!" Lissa exclaimed, tears shimmering in her eyes. "What are we going

to do now?"

The tiny professor struggled in his seat. His face was a sallow white as he started to

answer Lissa's question.

"I have informed Professor Dumbledore on this grave crisis. I assure you, he has acted

immediately. All the teachers have an eye out for her, and if she doesn't turn up within

the next few weeks, well, I am afraid the Ministry of Magic will shortly become

involved."

Lissa gasped with apprehension. Frances abruptly felt exceedingly queasy.

"What you ladies are to do," Professor Flitwick continued. "is keep watching for a sign

of Miss Lovegood. If you hear anything, even the littlest thing, I want you to come to me

or another teacher instantly. Understood?"

Lissa and Frances bobbed their heads obediently.

"Ok then." Flitwick jumped off his chair. "I suppose we shall meet again real soon.

Have a pleasant day!"

As they were ushered out of Flitwick's office, Lissa murmured, "How does he expect us

to have a 'pleasant day' when one of our fellow classmates is missing."

Frances didn't reply, but down within, she secretly agreed.

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"So ho' 'ere your quizzes eh'?"

"Oh it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be really." Hermione looked keen as the topic

of N.E.W.Ts. "Question number fifty-five on our Potions N.E.W.Ts was reasonably

problematical. Distinguish the signs of the olivegrass plus whollybark and hornfaced

lizard skin with Jasmine sap when added an hour previous to the other one. Well that one

and number eighty-two. It was extremely intricate as well."

"wa 'asy pour oh bo day." Ron grumbled with a mouth jam-packed with razzleberry

muffin.

"Excuse me!?" Hermione cried, looking rather disgusted.

Ron swallowed.

"I said, that's easy for you to say." He glanced at Hagrid. "I had trouble with at least

thirty of the questions."

"Well you should have studied a tad bit more then shouldn't you?!" Hermione barked.

"Well excuse me little miss-perfect-in-all-classes, but I am afraid I just don't rise up to

your standards." Ron argued.

Harry and Hagrid turned away from the arguing pair.

"So uh, 'ow es luna??" Hagrid inquired.

Harry's face shadowed. Ron and Hermione quit arguing at the mention of Luna's name.

"Do I really care where that silly, fucking, conceited poser is?" Harry asked heatedly.

Hagrid stepped back.

"Didn' ya go to the ball 'gethor?" Hagrid asked.

Hermione spoke up before Harry could answer.

"Yes, they did." She growled furiously. "And it was a big mistake too. Luna Lovegood

is nothing but a evil, despicable player who likes to fracture men's hearts."

"Now wait jus' a pricken' minute 'ere. That's not the Luna I 'no. She ain't tha' –"

"Hagrid?"

"Quick 'ide!" Hagrid shoved Harry, Ron, and Hermione behind the couch as the door

swerved open.

"Professor's Mcgonagall, Dumbledore, Good day. Can I getcha a drink?"

Harry hit his head. What were Dumbledore and Mcgonagall doing here?

"No thank you Hagrid." Dumbledore's tone was frosty, a tone that Harry had never

heard before. "We need you to do something for us."

"Course!" said Hagrid. "Anythin' to help ya out."

"Good." Mcgonagall snipped.

Dumbledore spoke again.

"On Sunday, June fifth, at exactly two twenty nine p.m, Frances Jade Dinnigan and Lissa

Elizabeth Kinglee reported a fellow student missing."

"O' way!" Hagrid cried. Dumbledore nodded.

"Yes, indeed. It has now been over a week now since Luna disappeared. No one

knows were she could have gone."

"Wai' a minute." Hagrid said instantly. "Luna? As 'n Luna Lovegood?"

Mcgonagall nodded. "Yes. It is. Frances and Lissa claim that on the night of the ball,

she hadn't been in bed when they went to their dormitory. The next morning, she still

hadn't shown up. So they went to the Ravenclaw head, Professor Flitwick. He quickly

notified the teachers. A couple days ago, Flitwick informed Dumbledore about this, as

she still has not appeared."

"So wha' do ya want me to do?" Hagrid asked.

"I would like you to comb the Forbidden Forest." Dumbledore said calmly. Harry

detected an edge of rawness in his voice still. "Professor's Mcgonagall, Snape, Flitwick,

and Sprout have all agreed to help search the forest."

"Professor," Hagrid's voice was only just a whisper by this point. "What if, what if we

can't find 'er?"

Dumbledore sighed.

"Then I am afraid to say," he said forlornly, "in a few weeks, Miss Lovegood does not

show up, then we must hand the situation over to the Ministry of Magic."

Harry heard Hermione gasp. Turning towards her, he saw that her face was hard and

listening intently, but it was unmistakable to miss the glint of fear in her eyes.

"Well we best be off Hagrid." Mcgonagall said, "I shall expect to see you early tomorrow

morning then?"

"Course." Hagrid said. "N' Dumbledore?"

Dumbledore turned to face Hagrid.

"Yes Hagrid?"

"Do ya think," Hagrid paused. "Do ya think that.......that Luna could be dead sir?"

Dumbledore's face became rigid.

"It is a possibility." He said quietly, "But I rather not think about it."

"Yes." Hagrid nodded. "Yes sir. Well anyway, see ya tomorrow."

Dumbledore and Mcgonagall left. Scrambling out of their hiding places, the trio

gathered around Hagrid.

"What do they mean, Luna's gone?" Hermione snapped.

Hagrid shrugged.

"Yeh don't want ta 'now," he said, pulling arrows and a crossbow out of a chest. "So I'm

not goin' to tell ya."

All three of them stared at Hagrid, hoping that he would say more of the subject. But he

didn't.

"Now yeh betta get goin'." He said. "Your classes will be startin' soon."

And that was the end of that.

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Ok I know that wasn't exactly the best chapter in the world, but hey, I had to write something. Anyway, hope you are enjoying it so far.